WALES

Dairy Products

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will discuss with ministerial colleagues the promotion in England of dairy products produced in Wales.

Wayne David: UK Government and the Welsh Assembly Government already have a number of successful initiatives promoting the best of Welsh food in the UK and abroad.

Carbon Capture Pilot: Aberthaw

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with RWE npower on government assistance for the development of the carbon capture pilot project at Aberthaw; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: My predecessor recently met the CEO of RWE npower who updated him about the range of their energy activities in Wales including at Aberthaw.

Welsh Economy

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on measures to assist economic recovery in Wales.

Peter Hain: I look forward to undertaking the same meetings as my predecessor. Both the UK Government and Welsh Assembly Government are committed to supporting Welsh businesses and households through these challenging times.

Welsh Economy

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues and the Welsh Assembly Government on the state of the Welsh economy.

Peter Hain: I look forward to my first meeting with the First Minister on the Welsh economy. I want to focus not just on delivering the help that people need now but on building a stronger economy for the recovery to come.

Draft Legislative Competence Orders

Alun Michael: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the speed and effectiveness of each stage of the process for considering draft legislative competence orders.

Wayne David: We reviewed the LCO process last year and will keep it under review to ensure it continues to work effectively.

Departmental Data Protection

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many notifications his Department made to the Information Commissioner in the year ended 30 April 2009 in respect of the loss or mishandling of personal information or data; what was notified in each such case; and how many individuals were the subjects of personal information or data in respect of which such notifications were made.

Peter Hain: None.

TRANSPORT

Aviation: Exhaust Emissions

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what estimate he has made of the change in the level of carbon dioxide emissions attributable to the liberalisation of aviation within the EU in  (a) the UK and  (b) the EU since 1993.

Paul Clark: holding answer 8 June 2009
	 The Government have not made any assessment of the impact on carbon dioxide emissions attributable to the liberalisation of aviation within the European Union.

Aviation: Exhaust Emissions

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what information his Department holds on which airlines provide carbon dioxide emissions information on their air tickets.

Paul Clark: holding answer 8 June 2009
	I am not aware of any specific examples of airlines providing information on their tickets, but some include high level data on their website or in their in-flight magazines. The information is typically the average grammes of carbon dioxide (CO2) per passenger km on that aircraft or airline rather than on that specific flight. In addition departmental officials have contributed to the development of tools that estimate the emissions for a particular flight both for the International Civil Aviation Organisation and the Government's Act on CO2 website.

Cabinet: Glasgow

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport 
	(1)  how many  (a) special advisers and  (b) officials of his Department accompanied him to Glasgow for the Cabinet meeting on 16 April 2009;
	(2)  what car journeys he took in attending the Cabinet meeting in Glasgow on 16 April 2009;
	(3)  how much expenditure was incurred by his Department in respect of the Cabinet meeting in Glasgow on 16 April 2009;
	(4)  what expenditure on  (a) travel,  (b) accommodation and  (c) food (i) he and (ii) officials in his Department incurred in connection with the Cabinet meeting in Glasgow on 16 April 2009.

Chris Mole: For information in relation to the Cabinet and public engagement event held in Glasgow on 16 April I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 3 June 2009,  Official Report, column 487W.

Climate Change

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what steps his Department has taken to adapt to climate change in the last two years.

Sadiq Khan: All Departments are actively involved in the cross-Government Adapting to Climate Change Programme, which aims to help society adapt to climate change. The role of the programme is to develop and provide a comprehensive evidence base including adaptation tools, to raise awareness of the need to adapt, to measure success and to work across Government at all levels to embed adaptation. Further details about the programme's work can be found at:
	www.defra.gov/adaptation
	As well as working together to tackle issues that affect all Departments and their work, each Government Department is adapting to climate change in its own operations and policies.
	In the last two years the Department for Transport's (DfT) work on adaptation has included:
	Working closely with Network Rail in designing methodologies to ensure renewal work incorporates increased resilience and that the network can withstand future climate related events.
	Establishing a cross-rail industry forum and commissioning research to identify and address challenges to the railway and produce hazard maps highlighting vulnerable areas.
	Completing research on adapting materials and techniques in highway works to the changing climate which will be published by the Highways Agency as a guide for local authorities.
	The Highways Agency's assessment of how to manage the risks from climate change to its strategic road network. This has already improved drainage and road surface standards to increase resilience.
	Ensuring a risk-based approach to adaptation is integrated into the 'New Approach to Transport Appraisal' (NATA)—the framework used to appraise costs and benefits of transport schemes requiring DFT's funding/approval.

Climate Change

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what estimate he has made of his Department's potential gross  (a) costs and  (b) savings arising from its climate change adaptation measures in the next three years.

Sadiq Khan: It is not currently possible to provide estimates of the potential costs and savings over the next three years. It has, however, been shown in the Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change that timely and well-targeted climate adaptation measures will yield benefits in excess of their costs. The main rationale for investment to address climate risk will be to reduce the UK's vulnerability to longer-term climate change impacts.
	The Government are undertaking a Climate Change Risk Assessment and Economic Analysis, which will provide estimates of the costs and benefits of adaptation to the UK. This analysis will be presented to Parliament within three years of the Climate Change Act coming in to force.

Departmental Billing

Mark Oaten: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many days on average  (a) his Department and  (b) each of its agencies has taken to pay invoices from suppliers in each month since November 2008.

Chris Mole: The Department for Transport is comprised of the Central Department (DfTc) and seven Executive Agencies. The Executive Agencies are Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Driving Standards Agency (DSA), Highways Agency (HA), Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA), Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) and Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA).
	The average number of calendar days taken to pay invoices from suppliers in each month since November 2008 is shown as follows. The table excludes figures for VCA which could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			   DfTc  DVLA  DSA  HA  MCA  VOSA  GCDA 
			 November 2008 37 10 18 22 9 14 23 
			 December 2008 28 11 15 11 11 10 17 
			 January 2009 25 12 22 9 12 13 24 
			 February 2009 15 10 15 10 12 11 19 
			 March 2009 14 12 14 12 7 13 18 
			 April 2009 13 10 10 16 9 10 22 
			 May 2009 10 8 10 9 12 11 17

Global Positioning System

Norman Baker: To ask the Minster of State, Department for Transport what assessment he has made of the safety implications of possible failures of the Global Positioning System.

Paul Clark: holding answer 8 June 2009
	 The Department for Transport has not carried out any assessment of the possible safety implications of a failure of the Global Positioning System (GPS). The vulnerabilities of GPS because of intentional or unintentional interference or because of environmental interference have always made it unwise for any GPS user to rely on it as the only means of radio navigation position fixing. It is customary to use multiple navigation systems for marine and aviation navigation for example.
	However, the European Commission has announced plans to prepare a European Radio-Navigation Plan (ERNP), by next year, which will draw up a comprehensive inventory of the vast array of radio-navigation services (satellite and terrestrial)—with the aim of informing future strategy and policy development for all users not just transport. The plan will set out how best to harmonise radio-navigation services and to ensure redundancy and reliability in the use of any mix of navigation systems in support of safety, security, transport, environment and economic policies.
	Departmental officials will work with the Commission and other EU member states to develop the emerging strategy and policy.

M1: Nottinghamshire

Greg Knight: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what the hours of work of the contractors carrying out the widening of the M1 motorway between junctions 25 and 28 are; what consideration has been given to carrying out such work on a 24-hour basis; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mole: Work generally starts between 6 am and 8 am and finishes between 6 pm and 8 pm, Monday to Friday. These hours have been agreed with the respective Environmental Health Departments of the four local authorities that are affected by the scheme under Section 61 of the Environmental Health Act.
	Between summer 2009 and summer 2010, consideration will be given to extending these hours.

Railways: Publicity

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Cheadle of 12 January 2009,  Official Report, column 399W, on railways: mobility, for what reasons his Department has not advertised to promote rail services generically in support of the Government's climate change and social exclusion objectives.

Chris Mole: holding answer 8 June 2009
	 Advertising rail services is a matter primarily for the train operating companies. The Government provide information to consumers and businesses on the emissions impact of their journeys and ways that these can be mitigated. Our aim is to help people make informed choices, and whatever their chosen mode of transport, to make it safe, reliable and accessible and to reduce its environmental impact.

Transport: Coventry

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent steps his Department has taken to reduce the effects on the environment in the Coventry area of  (a) public,  (b) road and  (c) air transport.

Sadiq Khan: The Government announced in December 2008 a series of changes to the Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) which is paid to operators of local bus services in England. Changes have been introduced to ensure that the grant is targeted more towards achieving environmental and climate change objectives. The changes encourage operators of local bus services in and around Coventry (and the rest of England) to achieve greater fuel efficiency by paying a higher rate of grant to any operator which achieves fuel efficiency improvements. In addition, an extra payment of 6p per kilometre will now be paid for all kilometres operated by low carbon emission buses.
	The Local Transport Act 2008 requires local transport authorities, including Coventry, to have regard to Government guidance and policies on the environment when formulating their local transport plans and policies. Under European Union legislation, authorities are also required to undertake and monitor a strategic environmental assessment to ensure the environmental impacts of any transport-related investment are fully considered. These requirements ensure consideration is given to initiatives to encourage walking, cycling and other forms of sustainable travel.
	The Government have recently invested over £80 million in major public transport and road schemes in the West Midlands conurbation, including Coventry, to encourage greater bus travel and tackle the problem of congestion and the effects on the environment. These include the Coventry Primelines Bus Network scheme, upgrading the Urban Traffic Control Centre and the first phase of the Red Routes network.
	With regard to air transport, the Department for Transport's responsibilities for noise mitigation measures do not extend to airports in the West Midlands. Noise restrictions at Coventry airport may be imposed voluntarily by the airport operator or by the local planning authority through planning conditions or agreements.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities: Finance

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what funding is being provided by his Department to the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities in 2009-10.

Shaun Woodward: The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) has no plans to provide funding to the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities in 2009-10.

DEFENCE

Departmental Consultants

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many external consultants are employed by  (a) his Department and  (b) the Army in relation to military operations in each area of Afghanistan;
	(2)  what the average length of time is of a contract for external consultancy employed by  (a) his Department and  (b) the Army; and how long on average consultants assigned to theatres of operations spend in theatre.

Kevan Jones: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The MOD does not, however, routinely employ external consultants in theatre.

Departmental Disciplinary Proceedings

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officials in his Department are suspended; how many are suspended on full pay; for how long each has been suspended; and what the reasons are for each such suspension.

Kevan Jones: The number of MOD civil servants on suspension as of 23 April 2009 is 45. MOD policy is that while on suspension individuals will continue to receive full pay and have been suspended for disciplinary reasons in line with agreed policy. The length of time on suspension is:
	
		
			   Individuals 
			 6 months and under 19 
			 6 months to 1 year 14 
			 1 to 2 years 7 
			 2 to 3 years 0 
			 3 years and above (1)2 
			 (1) These are due to an ongoing fraud investigations.

Ex-servicemen: Radiation Exposure

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the framework for the research to be commissioned on the prevalence of certain conditions among the children of nuclear test veterans; and to what extent related research conducted in other countries will be drawn upon in compiling that framework.

Kevan Jones: The working group that I announced in my written ministerial statement of 21 April 2009,  Official Report, column 6WS, is in the process of being convened. This group will have responsibility for finalising the details of the proposed research projects. It is therefore not possible to provide an answer to these questions at this time. However, I will ensure that my hon. Friend is kept informed of developments.

Ex-servicemen: Radiation Exposure

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to the British Nuclear Test Veterans' Association request for recognition for nuclear test veterans; and when he expects to make a decision on that request.

Kevan Jones: The Ministry of Defence is not aware of a specific request for recognition from British Nuclear Test Veterans. The Government do, however, continue to recognise and be grateful to all the servicemen who participated in the nuclear testing programme. Their contribution ensured that the UK was equipped with an appropriate nuclear deterrent during the cold war which, thankfully, we never needed to use.
	The Ministry of Defence is reviewing the judgment handed down in the High Court on 5 June and will make a statement at a future date.

Ex-servicemen: Suicide

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of research commissioned by his Department on the incidence of suicide among former service personnel.

Kevan Jones: The MOD commissioned research from Manchester University to investigate the level of suicide among those leaving the UK armed forces over the period 1996 to 2005, and to make comparisons with matched personnel remaining in service and the general population. This work was published in the peer reviewed journal, Public Library of Science Medicine in March 2009. For the first time, the study linked databases of discharged personnel and the national database of suicide and undetermined deaths. The results showed that overall rates of suicide of those who left were little different from the equivalent serving or civilian general populations. There was an increased risk for young men who left the armed forces after a short period of service.

Submarines

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the repair work to the UK vessel occasioned by the collision between French and British ballistic missile submarines will be completed; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 8 June 2009
	I can confirm that HMS Vanguard has returned to operational service following repair work at Her Majesty's Naval Base Clyde.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Fisheries: Quotas

Richard Benyon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his most recent estimate is of plaice stocks in the Irish Sea.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The most recent estimate of the plaice stock in the Irish sea (Area VIIa) was given by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) in July 2008. It can be found on the ICES website:
	http://www.ices.dk/committe/acom/comwork/report/2008/2008/ple-iris.pdf
	At the time, the Spawning Stock Biomass was estimated to reach 9,720 tonnes in 2009 and the stock was considered to be at full reproductive capacity and harvested sustainably. I expect to receive an update on that advice in the coming weeks.

Fishing Vessels

Richard Benyon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many fishing vessels of under 10 metres which fished in the Irish sea have been decommissioned in each year since 2002.

Huw Irranca-Davies: No fishing vessels of 10 metre and under in length based in ports in the Irish sea have been decommissioned since 2002.

Flood Control

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the extent to which local authorities are encouraging households and businesses to take up property flood resistance and resilience measures.

Huw Irranca-Davies: My Department has made no formal assessment of the extent to which local authorities are encouraging households and businesses to take up property flood resistance and resilience measures. However, the household resilience grant scheme, announced by the Secretary of State in December 2008, has raised the profile of property-level flood risk mitigation initiatives as indicated by the 166 applications for the grant in the first round, and over 170 expressions of interest in submitting applications for the second round. Whether successful or not, we will be encouraging local authorities to publicise the merits of property-level initiatives using material that is already available, much of it funded by the Government.

Flood Control

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans his Department has to increase the minimum amount of water that water supply companies are required to provide through emergency contingency arrangements in the event of normal supplies being contaminated by flooding.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Sir Michael Pitt's report on lessons learned from the 2007 floods included the recommendation that DEFRA should amend emergency regulations to increase the minimum amount of water to be provided in an emergency, in order to reflect reasonable needs during a longer-term loss of mains supply.
	The Government's response, published on 17 December, supported changes in response to this, and indeed supported all Sir Michael's recommendations.
	Discussions have taken place with the water sector, the Drinking Water Inspectorate, the Health Protection Agency, the Consumer Council for Water, Ofwat and the Welsh Assembly Government, and we expect to make an announcement shortly.

Flood Control

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department has taken to prevent automatic connection of surface water drainage facilities to new developments since the publication of the Pitt Report on flooding.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Amending the ability automatically to connect surface water drainage from premises to the public sewerage system would encourage the use of sustainable drainage systems. This will provide increased capacity in public sewers and mimic natural drainage.
	The draft Flood and Water Management Bill, published on 21 April 2009, includes provision for the amendment of section 106 of the Water Industry Act 1991 to require sustainable drainage techniques to have been applied in new developments or redevelopments before any connection to the public sewer may be made.

Inland Waterways

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what expenditure  (a) British Waterways and  (b) the Environment Agency has made on the maintenance and development of navigational infrastructure in the last five years; and how many such structures owned by each organisation are classified as at risk.

Huw Irranca-Davies: In the last five years, British Waterways has spent approximately £650 million on its core waterways and major works, plus national restoration. Expenditure by the Environment Agency was in the order of £66 million on the replacement, maintenance and improvement of its navigational assets.
	British Waterways has 153 structures considered 'at risk' based on those principal assets classified as D and E with a significant consequence of failure. The Environment Agency has 170 structures considered 'at risk' based on those assets which are not in their 'required condition'.

Inland Waterways

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department has allocated to  (a) British Waterways and  (b) the Environment Agency as grant in aid for 2010-11.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Budget decisions are being considered by Ministers and will be notified to chief executives of the Environment Agency and British Waterways very shortly.

Inland Waterways

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many outstanding projects for maintenance works on waterways  (a) British Waterways and  (b) the Environment Agency had in each of the last five years; what estimate he has made of the cost to each organisation of clearing the backlog of projects; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: British Waterways manages its maintenance programme using a risk-based approach in order to ensure that its network remains in a reasonable and safe condition. British Waterways estimates that it would cost around £200 million to remove a backlog of maintenance to both principal and non-principal assets. In 2004, British Waterways eliminated its backlog of safety related arrears.
	In 2004, the Environment Agency estimated the backlog of assets that needed to be brought to required condition and so began a £60 million programme through to the end of 2010-11.
	The following table shows the number of assets brought back into required condition by the agency over the last five years.
	
		
			   2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Actual percentage of assets in required condition 69 82 85 89 90 
			 Number of assets to be brought to required condition 226 131 109 80 73 
			 Number of assets brought to required condition — 95 22 29 7 
		
	
	However, more of the agency's navigation assets have fallen below required condition since 2004 as it has not had the funding needed to maintain them in a steady state. The agency currently estimates that it will cost £71 million to address all of the 2004 assets and the additional backlog. Up until March 2009, the agency spent £40.5 million on this programme. A further £9.5 million has been allocated for 2009-10, with £21 million remaining thereafter. The cost of addressing the remaining backlog is currently under review.

Pesticides

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what safety testing arrangements are required for adjuvants and other permitted additives in plant protection products; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether the approval process for new plant protection products requires applicants to provide safety data on each component of new formulations; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what adjuvants are permitted for use in plant protection products in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Plant protection products are subject to a rigorous, safety based, system of regulation. Council Directive 91/414/EEC established a harmonised framework for the authorisation of plant protection products in Europe. There is a two tier system with active ingredients being registered at community level and products containing these ingredients being registered at national level, but in accordance with common rules.
	The directive provides detailed rules as to what data should be supplied for formulated plant protection products (Annex III). Guidance for member states as to how to evaluate these data and reach decisions is provided in annex VI to the directive.
	The data required (on the formulation, including active ingredient and co-formulants), and subsequent regulatory risk assessments, for plant protection products cover issues such as physical and chemical properties; efficacy; toxicology; operator, worker and bystander (including resident) exposure; residues and consumer exposure; environmental exposure; and the risk to wildlife.
	Full details of these requirements can be found in Directive 91/414/EEC. A copy of the directive (including annexes III and VI) is available on the website of the Health and Safety Directorate's Chemicals Regulation Directorate at:
	http://www.pesticides.gov.uk/applicant_advice.asp?id=645
	Plant protection products and their active ingredients are evaluated in the light of current scientific and technical knowledge based on the appraisal of a dossier supplied by the applicant. Each scientific evaluation will be specific to the formulation and use for which approval is being sought. Each case is treated on its individual merits there being no list of permitted co-formulants in pesticide formulations. Co-formulants with unacceptable toxicological properties would be identified in the overall toxicity of the formulation and would result in either a more restrictive level of classification or refusal for use as a plant protection product.

Pesticides

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which UK-licensed plant protection products contain glyphosate as the active ingredient; and which adjuvants and other additives there are in each such product.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Excepting the identity and amount of active ingredient, and the type of formulation, the formulation details of plant protection products, including adjuvants and other co-formulants, are commercially confidentiality and cannot be released.
	At present there are 216 UK-licensed plant protection products which contain glyphosate as the active ingredient. The names of these are listed along with their registration numbers:
	
		
			   Product 
			 M13390 Accelerate 
			 M14254 Acomac 
			 M12677 Acrion 
			 M14131 Amega Duo 
			 M13358 Amega Duo 
			 M13000 Amenity Glyphosate 360 
			 M14238 Asda Concentrated Glyphosate WeedKiller with Systemic Action 
			 M13096 Asda Systemic Path and Patio WeedKiller Spray 
			 M13088 Asda Systemic Weed Killer Spray 
			 M11118 Asteroid 
			 M13915 Asteroid BioCare 
			 M12666 Azural 
			 M14361 Azural 
			 M10379 B&Q Complete Weed Killer 
			 M14237 B&Q Concentrated Glyphosate WeedKiller with Systemic Action 
			 M14205 B&Q Value Weed Killer 
			 M12714 Barclay Barbarian 
			 M12659 Barclay Gallup 360 
			 M13250 Barclay Gallup Amenity 
			 M12660 Barclay Gallup Biograde 360 
			 M12716 Barclay Gallup Biograde Amenity 
			 M12661 Barclay Gallup Hi-Aktiv 
			 M12715 Barclay Garryowen 
			 M13683 Beds and Borders Spot Weeder 
			 M13236 Bramble Killer Ultra 
			 M12951 Buggy XTG 
			 M12586 CDA Vanquish Biactive 
			 M14107 Charger 
			 M14269 Charger B 
			 M14216 Charger C 
			 M12913 Cleancrop Hoedown 
			 M13049 Cleancrop Tungsten 
			 M12678 Clinic 
			 M14040 Clinic Ace 
			 M12980 Clinic Ace 
			 M13703 Clinic RTU 
			 M13217 Clipper 
			 M12825 Complete WeedKiller 
			 M12826 Complete WeedKiller Concentrate 
			 M13032 Credit 
			 M14066 Credit DST 
			 M13822 Credit DST 
			 M13150 Deep Root Path and Patio WeedKiller 2 
			 M13845 Deep Root Ultra 
			 M13239 Deep Root Ultra Path and Patio Killer 
			 M12856 Discman Biograde 
			 M14158 Doff Concentrated Glyphosate WeedKiller with Systemic action 
			 M13094 Doff knockdown Systemic Path and Patio 
			 M13097 Doff knockdown Systemic WeedKiller 
			 M12581 Doff Knockdown WeedKiller 
			 M12560 Doff Knockdown WeedKiller Spray 
			 M14243 Doff tough Weeds and brushwood Killer 
			 M12720 Dow AgroSciences Glyphosate 360 
			 M13786 Elimin8 
			 M10569 Envision 
			 M12146 Fast Action Roundup ready-to-use WeedKiller 
			 M14481 Fast Action Roundup ready-to-use WeedKiller 
			 M14012 Fast Action Roundup XL 
			 M14485 Fast Action Roundup XL 
			 M12759 First Line 
			 M13095 Focus Systemic Path and Patio WeedKiller Spray 
			 M13099 Focus Systemic WeedKiller Spray 
			 M12845 Gallup Biograde WeedKiller RTU 
			 M12898 Gallup Hi-Aktiv Amenity 
			 M13233 Gem Glyphosate Weed and Root WeedKiller 
			 M12990 Glister 
			 M12679 Glydate 
			 M14006 Glyder360 
			 M13940 Glyfo-TDI 
			 M10995 Glyfos 
			 M12499 Glyfos Care Concentrate 
			 M12498 Glyfos Care RTU 
			 M13054 Glyfos Dakar 
			 M13147 Glyfos Dakar pro 
			 M14297 Glyfosat 36 
			 M12994 Glymark 
			 M13870 Glymark 
			 M13105 Glyper 
			 M14383 Glyper 
			 M13882 Glypho-Rapid 450 
			 M12668 Glyphogan 
			 M12827 Glyphosate 
			 M12669 Glyphosate 360 
			 M12680 Glyphosate 360 
			 M12828 Glyphosate ready-to-use 
			 M13013 Glyphosate Spot Weeder 
			 M12063 Glyphosate Systemic WeedKiller 
			 M12065 Glyphosate Systemic WeedKiller Concentrate 
			 M13787 Glypoo 
			 M14444 GlyWeed 
			 M12718 Greenaway GLY-490 
			 M14001 Ground Clear 
			 M13518 Growing Success Bramble Killer 2 
			 M12717 Habitat 
			 M12922 Hilite 
			 M13871 Hilite 
			 M13237 Instore Glyphosate WeedKiller 
			 M13293 Instore Home and Garden Glyphosate WeedKiller 
			 M10993 Kernel 
			 M12009 KN540 
			 M13977 Landgold Glyphosate 360 
			 M14110 Long Lasting Ground Clear 
			 M11041 Manifest 
			 M12664 Mon 79376 
			 M12663 Mon 79545 
			 M12582 Mon 79632 
			 M13907 Nomix Blade 
			 M12370 Nomix Conqueror 
			 M13420 Nomix Dual 
			 M12921 Nomix G 
			 M13872 Nomix G 
			 M12920 Nomix Nova 
			 M13873 Nomix Nova 
			 M12993 Nomix Revenge 
			 M13874 Nomix Revenge 
			 M12699 Nufosate 
			 M13794 Nufosate Ace 
			 M13195 Path WeedKiller 
			 M13388 Path WeedKiller Concentrate 
			 M12599 PathClear Easymix 
			 M12896 PathClear Gun! Season Long 
			 M14137 PathClear Gun! WeedKiller 
			 M12900 PathClear Season Long 
			 M12476 PathClear Ultra 
			 M12557 PathClear Ultra Gun! 
			 M14143 PathClear WeedKiller LC 
			 M14138 PathClear WeedKiller PC 
			 M13684 Paths and Patios Spot Weeder 
			 M12173 Pistol 
			 M12733 Pontil 360 
			 M14322 Pontil 360 
			 M12756 Preline 
			 M12757 Peline Plus 
			 M13670 Proliance Quattro 
			 M12632 Rambo Bio 
			 M12633 Rambo Bio RTU 
			 M13676 Resolva 24h 
			 M13700 Resolva 24h 
			 M13671 Resolva 24h Concentrate 
			 M13699 Resolva 24h Concentrate 
			 M12681 Romany 
			 M14104 Rosate 36 
			 M14459 Rosate 36 
			 M12645 Roundup 
			 M12772 Roundup Ace 
			 M12672 Roundup Amenity 
			 M10320 Roundup Biactive 
			 M13409 Roundup Biactive 3G 
			 M12646 Roundup Biactive Dry 
			 M12945 Roundup Energy 
			 M12526 Roundup Express 
			 M14013 Roundup Fast action Path and Drive WeedKiller 
			 M14483 Roundup Fast action Path and Drive WeedKiller 
			 M12915 Roundup GC 
			 M10975 Roundup Gold 
			 M12731 Roundup Greenscape 
			 M12866 Roundup Klik 
			 M12952 Roundup Max 
			 M13989 Roundup Metro 
			 M14484 Roundup Path and Drive 
			 M12337 Roundup Path and Drive 
			 M14198 Roundup Path and Drive Liquid Concentrate 
			 M10330 Roundup Pro Biactive 
			 M11907 Roundup Pro-Green 
			 M12778 Roundup ProBiactive 450 
			 M12953 Roundup Provide 
			 M12671 Roundup Rail 
			 M13850 Roundup Tree Stump and Root Killer 
			 M12774 Roundup Ultimate 
			 M13081 Roundup Ultimate 
			 M08172 Roundup Ultra 3000 
			 M12732 Roundup Ultra ST 
			 M14133 Routeone Glyphosate 360 
			 M14458 Routeone Glyphosate 360 
			 M13889 Routeone Rosate 36 
			 M13659 Routeone Rosate 360 
			 M13661 Routeone Rosate 360 
			 M12674 Samurai 
			 M12673 Scorpion 
			 M12968 Sip31519RTU 
			 M14505 Slingshot 
			 M12675 Stacato 
			 M13079 Statis 
			 M12923 Stirrup 
			 M13875 Stirrup 
			 M14221 Super Strength Glyphosate 
			 M13151 Tesco complete WeedKiller Spray 
			 M13848 Tesco Glyphosate Concentrated WeedKiller 
			 M13092 Tesco Systemic Path and Patio WeedKiller Spray 
			 M13091 Tesco Systemic WeedKiller Spray 
			 M14102 Thunderbolt 
			 M10608 Touchdown quattro 
			 M14226 Tree Stump Killer 
			 M12897 Trustee Amenity 
			 M12662 Trustee Elite 
			 M12775 TumbleWeed 
			 M12729 TumbleWeed pro-active 
			 M12887 TumbleWeed ready to use 
			 M12932 Typhoon 360 
			 M12780 UKS 183b 
			 M13139 Weed Buster 
			 M13218 Weed Buster 
			 M13701 Weed Buster Concentrate 
			 M13702 Weed Buster Concentrate 
			 M13791 Weed Easy 
			 M14384 Weed Easy 
			 M13498 WeedBuster Super Concentrate 
			 M13499 WeedBuster Super Concentrate 
			 M13238 Weedfree RTU 
			 M13669 Weedwallop 
			 M14235 Wilko Concentrated Glyphosate WeedKiller with Systemic action 
			 M13235 Wilko Glyphosate Killer 
			 M13292 Wilko Glyphosate WeedKiller RTU 
			 M13089 Wilko Systemic Complete WeedKiller Spray 
			 M13093 Wilko Systemic Path and Patio WeedKiller Spray 
			 M13819 Woolworths Path and Patio WeedKiller Spray

Pesticides

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what safety testing procedures apply to the active ingredients of plant protection products prior to such products obtaining approval for commercial use.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Plant protection products are subject to a rigorous, safety based, system of regulation. Council Directive 91/414/EEC established a harmonised framework for the authorisation of plant protection products in Europe. There is a two tier system with active ingredients being registered at community level and products containing these ingredients being registered at national level, but in accordance with common rules.
	The directive includes detailed rules as to what data should be supplied for active ingredients (annex II). Guidance for member states as to how to evaluate these data and reach decisions is provided in annex VI to the directive.
	The data required, and subsequent regulatory risk assessments, cover such issues as physical and chemical properties; toxicology; impurities and metabolites; operator, worker and bystander (including resident) exposure; residues and consumer exposure; environmental exposure; and the risk to wildlife.
	Full details of these requirements can be found in Directive 91/414/EEC. A copy of the directive (including annexes II and VI) is available on the website of the Health and Safety Directorate's Chemicals Regulation Directorate at:
	http://www.pesticides.gov.uk/applicant_advice.asp?id=645

Seismic Monitoring: Seas and Oceans

Robert Goodwill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make an assessment of the likely effects of underwater seismic surveying using seismic cannons on shellfish and other commercial fish stocks.

Huw Irranca-Davies: holding answer 8 June 2009
	The UK is aware of the potential effects of underwater seismic activity on marine life and we are, and will continue to assess the impacts that these activities may have an all marine organisms, including shellfish and other commercial fish stocks. The UK is part of The Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (OSPAR convention) and currently work is being undertaken by an expert group within OSPAR on the effects of underwater sound on marine life, with findings to be published very soon.
	There is also a significant fund created by the Joint Industry Programme of the oil and gas industry to support further research into this issue.

Squirrels

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding his Department has allocated to the Red Squirrel Protection Partnership in each of the last five years.

Huw Irranca-Davies: In June 2006, the Red Squirrel Protection Partnership was awarded a three-year rural enterprise scheme grant totalling £148,000 to support the control of grey squirrels for the purpose of protecting red squirrel populations.

Squirrels

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the effect on the red squirrel population of changes in the levels of the grey squirrel population.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The interaction between the red and grey squirrel is not straightforward. They can live in the same area for up to 15 years, but in the end, the greys displace the reds. Where greys carry Squirrelpox virus, they can displace the reds within a very short period of time as the virus is normally fatal to reds while the greys remain unaffected.
	Our policy in England is to protect the remaining red squirrel populations that appear to have the best chance of survival. These include the populations on the Isle of Wight and Poole Harbour Islands where no grey squirrels are present and in the 17 designated red squirrel reserves in northern England. These have associated buffer zones where the culling of grey squirrels is actively encouraged. The Forestry Commission and Natural England recognise the importance of monitoring red and grey squirrel populations in these areas.

Wildlife: South East

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the effects of new housing developments on wildlife corridors in the South East.

Huw Irranca-Davies: There are no formal recognised wildlife corridors in the south-east of England, therefore no assessment of corridors as such has been made. However, the potential impact of housing developments on biodiversity would need to be carried out in accordance with Planning Policy Statement 9 on Biodiversity and Geological Conservation. In addition local planning authorities must have regard to biodiversity in line with duties imposed by the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Departmental ICT

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the PentiP computer system to be delivered; and what recent estimate he has made of the cost of delivering and implementing the system.

David Hanson: The PentiP procurement exercise is now in its concluding stage and the final cost will not be known until the contract has been awarded. The current expectation is that the total cost of designing, developing and implementing PentiP will be in line with the figure of £19.3 million, as per the previous answer provided on 29 September 2008,  Official Report, column 2328W.
	It is planned that the contract for the delivery of PentiP will be awarded in June 2009. Implementation of PentiP in all police forces in England and Wales will be completed by September 2011.

DNA: Databases

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer of 5 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 601-02W, on genetics: databases, into what category of offence each record identified on the Police National Computer fell.

Alan Johnson: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Electricity

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations his Department has received from  (a) the Association of Electricity Producers and  (b) Drax Power Limited since 2005.

David Hanson: holding answer 21 May 2009
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 9 June 2009,  Official Report, column 816W.

Fixated Threat Assessment Centre

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what floor area of office space is  (a) owned and  (b) leased by the Fixated Threat Assessment Centre.

David Hanson: The Fixated Threat Assessment Centre does not own or lease any office space. Its office is situated in a building leased by the Metropolitan Police Service. The floor area is around 100 sq mm.

Fixated Threat Assessment Centre

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals detained by the Fixated Threat Assessment Centre have subsequently been  (a) given custodial sentences and  (b) detained in psychiatric hospitals.

David Hanson: The Fixated Threat Assessment Centre (FTAC) does not detain people. All assessments and decisions regarding a person's treatment and any possible detention under the Mental Health Act are made by local health services.
	Since 2006, when FTAC began operation, 246 people have been detained under the Mental Health Act following a referral from FTAC and a subsequent decision by local health services. No individual has received a custodial sentence as a result of FTAC involvement.

Fixated Threat Assessment Centre

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals have been detained by the Fixated Threat Assessment Centre in each of the last three years; and what the average length of time was for an individual to be  (a) examined by a registered medical practitioner and  (b) interviewed by an approved social worker in each such year.

David Hanson: The Fixated Threat Assessment Centre (FTAC) does not detain individuals as a routine part of its work. Staff have assisted in conveying 27 people to a "place of safety" under section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 since FTAC began operation in October 2006.
	When FTAC identifies a person as being in need of mental health care, it alerts their general practitioner and local psychiatric services, which then provide whatever appropriate help in the community, or in hospital, they consider necessary, using appropriate existing legislation. These local services operate independently of FTAC and carry responsibility for any decisions made on patient care and treatment, including whether or not to detain the patient.
	As these assessments are carried out without FTAC involvement, no data about them are held.

Fixated Threat Assessment Centre

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions the Fixated Threat Assessment Centre has made use of police powers under section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983.

David Hanson: Since it began operation in October 2006, police officers working in the Fixated Threat Assessment Centre have made use of powers under section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 27 times.
	FTAC police officers, like all police officers, may make use of their general police powers under section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 to take a person who appears to be suffering from mental disorder, and in immediate need of care or control, to a place of safety i.e. a psychiatric hospital. When people are removed to hospital under section 136, they are examined by a registered medical practitioner and interviewed by an approved social worker, not associated with FTAC, in order to make any necessary arrangements for their treatment or care.

Fixated Threat Assessment Centre

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) police officers,  (b) psychiatric nurses,  (c) psychiatrists and  (d) psychologists were employed by the Fixated Threat Assessment Centre in each year since it was established.

David Hanson: The Fixated Threat Assessment Centre was established in October 2006, and its staffing has remained at a constant level since then:
	 (a) 10 police officers, comprising one detective chief inspector, one detective inspector, one detective sergeant, six police constables and one police support worker;
	 (b) Three forensic community mental health nurses;
	 (c) 0.8 whole time equivalent consultant forensic psychiatrist;
	 (d) 0.5 whole time equivalent forensic psychologist.

Fixated Threat Assessment Centre

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent on the establishment of the Fixated Threat Assessment Centre; and what its running costs have been in each year since its establishment.

David Hanson: holding answer 12 May 2009
	The Fixated Threat Assessment Centre was established in October 2006. Over the financial years 2006-07 and 2007-08, the Home Office provided a total of £507,262.21 as a contribution to the start-up and establishment of FTAC. Ongoing running costs are now met in part by the Department of Health, and in part by the Metropolitan Police Service, through the Police Grant.

War Crimes Act 1991

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what files her Department holds on  (a) the War Crimes Bill of (i) 1989-90 Session and (ii) 1990-91 Session and  (b) the War Crimes Act 1991; and if she will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	Responsibility for the formulation of the criminal law, including the offences in the War Crimes Act 1991, moved from the Home Office to the Ministry of Justice on 9 May 2007. We have not, in the time available, been able to retrieve and review those files and I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Austria: Anti-Semitism

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on anti-Semitism in Austria; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Bryant: Our embassy in Vienna is in contact with non-governmental organisations, community groups and Government representatives and we will continue to monitor anti-Semitism in Austria.
	The Government condemn anti-Semitism whenever and wherever it occurs.
	Austria's Federal Agency for State Protection and Counter Terrorism (BVT) monitors the occurrence of anti-Semitic incidents in Austria. The most recent figures available on anti-Semitic incidents in Austria are from the BVT's 2008 report. These show that in 2007 there were 343 right-wing extreme, xenophobic/racist and anti-Semitic incidents (those reported to the police by individuals or organisations) of which, 15 were exclusively classified as anti-Semitic. In 2006, there were 240 incidents, of which, eight were classified as anti-Semitic. Figures for 2008 are due for publication shortly.

Austria: Anti-Semitism

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of an attack on Holocaust survivors in Ebensee, Austria on 9 May 2009; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Bryant: I am aware of reports of the incident in Ebensee in Austria on 9 May 2009, in which several youths were alleged to have shouted Nazi slogans and fired plastic bullets at visitors to a memorial service for Holocaust victims. Five youths aged between 14 and 16 were arrested and subsequently released on bail. Their cases are being processed by public prosecutors. We continue to monitor these issues and wholly deprecate all anti-Semitic attacks.

Bangladesh

George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Government of India on the likely effect of the planned Tipaimukh Dam on the Bangladeshi environment.

Ivan Lewis: This project is a matter between the Indian and Bangladeshi governments. We hope it can be addressed in the interests of both countries and with full regard for the environment.

Departmental Finance

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many financial contractors and consultants were engaged by his Department's Finance Directorate in the financial year 2007-08; in what capacity each was retained; and what the cost to his Department of their services was.

David Miliband: A total of £4.38 million was spent by Finance Directorate on contractors and consultants in the financial year 2007-08. However, as Finance Directorate engages a wide range of consultants for different periods and varying tasks (including management and IT), providing a breakdown of numbers and capacity of consultants/contractors can be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

Diplomatic Service

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what procedures govern the receipt by his Department's envoys of funding for their activities from  (a) non-governmental agencies and  (b) foreign governments.

Chris Bryant: We have a service level agreement for non-governmental agencies to recover the costs incurred for services we provide overseas. This is based on a consistent charging framework across all posts. For foreign governments, we have a memorandum of understanding to recover platform costs (accommodation and security) and this is done through quarterly invoices.
	If a project is being co-funded, the implementer of the project will invoice each of the funding agencies for the amount that has been agreed. As a check and balance to ensure implementers do not try to bid to different agencies as well as the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for money for the same activities, we specifically ask during the concept and preparation of full bid phase whether
	"funding for this project has been sought from other donors, private institutions or co-funding with the host government".

Hezbollah

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of statements by Hezbollah's leadership that the group will never recognise Israel; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The only sustainable solution to the challenges facing Lebanon and the conflict in the Middle East is full engagement in democratic politics and the peace process. The Government continue to believe that Hezbollah should disarm, reject violence and play a constructive, democratic and peaceful role in Lebanese and regional politics, in line with UN Security Council resolutions. This includes the issue of the Middle East Peace Process, where we call on all parties to share the vision of two states—Israel and Palestine—living together in peace and security.

Members: Correspondence

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to reply to the letter of 9 March 2009 from the hon. Member for Woking on his constituent Mr. Samad.

Chris Bryant: holding answer 11 May 2009
	This letter was transferred to the Department for Work and Pensions who are currently dealing with the issues raised by Mr. Samad and have informed us they aim to provide a response by 23 June 2009.

Somalia: Piracy

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of allegations that British intelligence sources are providing information to Somali pirates operating in the Gulf of Aden; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: We are aware of recent press reports, upon which we assume your question is based and which originate in a speculative Spanish radio report, citing allegation that Somali pirates operating in the Gulf of Aden have been receiving information from shipping consultants in London.
	The allegations contained in the original report and subsequent press reporting are unsubstantiated and unfounded.

USA

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what occasions his predecessor met senior members of the US administration in  (a) 2001,  (b) 2002 and  (c) 2003.

David Miliband: The then Foreign Secretary, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor (Mr. Straw) met with senior members of the US Administration between June 2001 and December 2003 on a number of occasions. These included the then Secretary of State, Colin Powell in Washington, both in July and October 2001, and also at the UN General Assembly in November 2001, and the then Vice President, Dick Cheney, in Washington, in February 2002 and in London in March 2002.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Parliamentary Association: Visits Abroad

Dai Davies: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what records the Commission holds on the  (a) number of and  (b) cost to the public purse of overseas visits made by hon. Members as part of delegations of (i) the UK branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and (ii) the British Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union since the start of the 2008-09 financial year.

Nick Harvey: Both organisations receive funding from a number of sources which includes grant in aid paid from the House of Commons Administration Estimate. They have informed me that the total costs incurred by them in funding delegations undertaken by hon. Members since the start of 2008-09 have been:
	
		
			  Number of delegations  Total cost (£) 
			  UK Branch Commonwealth Parliamentary Association  
			 27 380,537 
			   
			  British Group Inter-Parliamentary Union  
			 19 358,535

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Departmental Pay

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 20 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1352W, on departmental reorganisation, what estimate she has made of the change in staffing costs consequent on the reorganisation of her Department's Communications Directorate and the ensuing change in staff numbers.

Angela Smith: Based on a current estimate of staff salaries the overall pay costs for Cabinet Office communications are likely to reduce but any savings will be dependent upon the levels of salary finally agreed for the new staff appointed.

Government Departments: Hotels

John Mann: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if she will consider the merits of instructing Government Departments to use budget hotel accommodation for the purposes of overnight stays on official business by Ministers and civil servants.

Angela Smith: Ministers and civil servants are required under the "Ministerial Code" and the "Civil Service Management Code" to make the most efficient and cost effective travel arrangements.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Carers' Benefits

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the effects on expenditure on social care of measures which have been introduced to enable older people to live independently at home through housing adaptations since 2005.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	This is a matter which is best demonstrated locally through the work of agencies and local authorities via local strategic partnerships.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much her Department spent on event management services in each of the last three years; and whether any such services were supplied by external providers.

Jonathan R Shaw: The DWP manages its requirements for a wide range of marketing and publicity services through a number of frameworks set up in 2006 through open and fair competition under EU rules comprised of external suppliers.
	There are five frameworks in place to cover event management services, namely:
	
		
			   Suppliers 
			 Lot 1: Conference and Event Management 5 
			 Lot 2: Exhibition Services 5 
			 Lot 3: Storage and Exhibition Installation 9 
			 Lot 4: Display Stand Provision 6 
			 Lot 5: Exhibition Panels 6 
		
	
	The spend across these five frameworks in each of the last three years was as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Lot 1  Lots 2 to 5 
			 2006-07 0.8 0.07 
			 2007-08 1.57 0.34 
			 2008-09 2.06 0.53 
		
	
	The data for lots 2 to 5 are consolidated on our systems and it would incur disproportionate cost to review all the individual transactions and separate them out as some suppliers are approved for more than one lot.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what expenditure under what budgetary headings was incurred by her Department in relation to the National Employment Partnership meeting held on 11 February 2009.

Jonathan R Shaw: No costs were incurred by my Department.

JUSTICE

Crimes of Violence: Convictions

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people were  (a) prosecuted for and  (b) convicted of (i) offences of violence against the person and (ii) sexual offences in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Jack Straw: The number of persons who were proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts by selected offence groups in England and Wales, for the years 1998 to 2007 (latest available) is shown in the following table.
	The Sexual Offences Act 2003 significantly modernised and strengthened the laws on sexual offences in England and Wales to provide extra protection to children from sexual exploitation. This makes direct comparisons with previous legislation very difficult. Many new offences created by the Act will not have a direct equivalent under the old legislation.
	These data are on the principal offence basis. The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offence for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, the offence selected is the one for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
	Court proceedings data for 2008 will be available in the autumn of 2009.
	
		
			  N umber of persons who were proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for sexual offences and violence against the person in England and Wales, 1998 to 2007( 1,2,3) 
			   Proceeded against  Found guilty 
			   Sexual offences( 4,5)  Violence against the person( 6)  Sexual offences( 4,5)  Violence against the person( 6) 
			 1996 7,763 75,243 4,567 37,050 
			 1999 7,817 75,315 4,304 35,700 
			 2000(7) 7,141 74,227 3,845 34,679 
			 2001 8,424 76,706 4,043 35,298 
			 2002 9,102 78,446 4,384 37,708 
			 2003 9,121 79,612 4,355 38,036 
			 2004 9,579 71,752 4,785 39,149 
			 2005 9,711 68,172 4,808 40,929 
			 2006 9,074 64,763 4,901 41,864 
			 2007 8,634 61,056 5,075 41,951 
			 (1) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2) Sexual offences and Violence against the person include 'Indictable only' and 'triable-either way offences'. 'Indictable only' are the most serious breaches of the criminal law and must be dealt with at the Crown court. 'Triable-either-way offences' may be tried either the Crown court or at magistrates courts. The offence groups do not include summary offences. (3) Every effort Is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts, and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (4) The Sexual Offences type includes data for the Sexual Offences Act 2003, which came into force on 1 May 2004. The Sexual Offences Act 2003 represented a major overhaul of the law and so comparisons with old offending regimes can be misleading. ( 5)  Sexual Offences offence type includes the following offences: Buggery Sexual Assault on a Male Indecency between Males Rape of a Female Rape of a Male Sexual Assault on a Female Sexual Activity with child under 13 Sexual Activity with child under 16 Familial Sexual Offences (Incest) Exploitation of Prostitution Abduction Bigamy Soliciting of women by Men Sexual activity etc. with a person with a mental disorder Abuse of children through prostitution and pornography Trafficking for sexual exploitation Abuse of trust—sexual offences Gross Indecency with Children Miscellaneous sexual offences ( 6)  Violence against the person offence type includes the following offence classes: Murder Attempted Murder Threat or Conspiracy to Murder Manslaughter Infanticide Child Destruction Causing Death by Dangerous Driving Manslaughter Due to Diminished Responsibility Causing Death by Careless Driving when under the Influence of Drink or Drugs Causing Death of a child or vulnerable person Wounding or other act Endangering Life Endangering Railway Passenger Endangering Life at Sea Malicious Wounding etc. Cruelty to or Neglect of Children Abandoning Child aged under Two Years Child Abduction Procuring Illegal Abortion Concealment of Birth Causing Death by Aggravated Vehicle Taking (7) Staffordshire police force were only able to submit sample data for persons proceeded against and convicted in the magistrates courts for the year 2000. Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data, these data are not robust enough at a detailed level and have been excluded from the table.  Source: OCJR—E and A: Office for Criminal Justice Reform—Evidence and Analysis Unit, Ministry of Justice

Debts: Court Orders

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many  (a) third party debt,  (b) interim charging and  (c) final charging orders were made by courts in each year between 1996 and 2003;
	(2)  how many charging orders in relation to credit card debt have been issued since 1997-98.

Bridget Prentice: The following table shows the number of interim and final third party debt orders and charging orders made in the county courts of England and Wales in each year between 1996 and 2003.
	Figures on the number of charging orders relating to credit card debt are not held centrally. This is because the administrative computer systems used in the county courts do not separately identify cases relating to credit card debt. While the relevant cases will be logged on the system, they cannot be distinguished from other types. To obtain the required information would require the inspection of individual case files, which would incur disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Number of interim and final third party debt orders and charging orders made in the county courts of England and Wales,1996 to 2003 
			   Third party debt orders( 1)  Charging orders( 2) 
			   Interim  Final  Interim  Final 
			 1996 4,860 2,800 16,753 13,261 
			 1997 4,327 2,459 15,044 11,422 
			 1998 3,936 1,658 15,056 10,652 
			 1999 4,141 1,233 14,643 9,749 
			 2000 3,857 1,033 16,751 9,689 
			 2001 4,072 1,396 22,769 15,487 
			 2002 5,160 1,540 29,971 21,408 
			 2003 5,873 1,754 34,796 25,217 
			 (1) Third party debt orders secure payment by freezing and then seizing money owed or payable by a third party to a debtor. (2) Charging orders obtain security for the payment against a property owned by the debtor.  Source: HMCS Caseman system (2000-03) and manual returns (1996-99).

Debts: Enforcement

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will place in the Library a copy of the report on his Department's scoping exercise undertaken in relation to the enforcement provisions of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007.

Bridget Prentice: I outlined on 25 February 2009,  Official Report, column 854W, that the scoping exercise involved a series of meetings with stakeholders to discuss implementation and that a statement would be made following the conclusion of a reassessment of the enforcement provisions contained within the Act.
	On 17 March 2009,  Official  Report, columns 46-47WS, I announced measures to strengthen regulation of the enforcement industry and clarify the rights, responsibilities and legal limits of debtors, creditors and bailiffs following the completion of the reassessment.

Empty Property

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what data the Land Registry gather on vacant  (a) commercial and  (b) industrial property.

Michael Wills: The Land Registry does not gather any data relating to vacant properties.

Family Proceedings

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department has paid Ernst and Young to carry out research into family advocacy services in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: The Legal Services Commission (LSC) commissioned the research by Ernst and Young on the family advocacy market to provide additional data for the impact assessment on the effect of our proposed new legal aid payment arrangements for advocacy work from 2010. Following a public tendering exercise the LSC agreed to pay Ernst and Young £65,035 (inclusive of VAT) for this research. The LSC has continued discussions with stakeholders, since the consultation on "Family legal aid funding from 2010" closed and has agreed to share the outcome of the Ernst and Young research with a number of stakeholders representing legal service providers when it becomes available in the next few weeks.

Fraud and Forgery: Police Cautions

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many cautions were issued for offences relating to fraud and forgery in each year since 1997.

Maria Eagle: The number of offenders issued with a caution for offences relating to fraud and forgery, in England and Wales, for the years 1997 to 2007 (latest data available) is shown in the following table.
	The cautions statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been cautioned for two or more offences at the same time, the principal offence is the more serious offence.
	Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when these data are used.
	Caution data for 2008 will be available in the autumn of 2009.
	
		
			  Number of offenders issued with a caution for selected offences relating to fraud and forgery( 1) , in England and Wales, 1997 to 2007( 2, 3, 4, 5) 
			   Cautions 
			 1997 7,156 
			 1998 7,402 
			 1999 7,205 
			 2000 6,180 
			 2001 5,764 
			 2002 5,335 
			 2003 5,484 
			 2004 6,036 
			 2005 6,936 
			 2006 8,024 
			 2007 8,587 
			 (1) Fraud and forgery includes the following offence classes: Fraud by Company Director etc. False Accounting Other Fraud Bankruptcy Offence Forgery etc. of Drug Prescription Other Forgery etc. (2) The cautions statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been cautioned for two or more offences at the same time, the principal offence is the more serious offence. (3) The offence group of fraud and forgery includes 'indictable only' and 'triable-either-way offences', it does not include summary offences. 'Indictable only' are the most serious breaches of the criminal law and must be dealt with at the Crown court. 'Triable-either-way offences' may be tried at either the Crown court or at magistrates courts. (4) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, It is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (5) From 1 June 2000, the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 came into force nationally and removed the use of cautions for persons under 18 and replaced them with reprimands and warnings. These are included in the totals.  Source: OCJR, E and A: Office for Criminal Justice Reform, Evidence and Analysis Unit, Ministry of Justice.

Housing: Sales

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average house sale price recorded by the Land Registry was in  (a) England and  (b) each local authority area in England in (i) April 1991, (ii) May 1997 and (iii) the most recent period for which figures are available.

Michael Wills: Land Registry has only collected these data since 1995. The figures requested are collated in quarterly periods; the tables will be placed in the Library of the House to cover March 1997 to June 1997 and January 2009 to March 2009.

Housing: Sales

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many residential property transactions with a purchase price between £125,000 and £175,000 have been recorded by the Land Registry as being completed since the temporary increase in the stamp duty threshold.

Michael Wills: For the period from September 2008 to the end of April 2009, 71,280 properties with a purchase price between £125,000 and £175,000 were sold in England and Wales.

Land Registry

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether the Land Registry is on course to meet its target of producing a complete Land Register for England and Wales by 2012.

Michael Wills: Strategic Objective 3 of the Land Registry's 10 Year strategic plan in 2002 was to complete the registration of all remaining unregistered titles by 2012. Land Registry strived to achieve the objective, making significant progress each year, but recognised that the achievement of a complete land register required compulsion, which would be unpopular and require primary legislation. As a result, Land Registry no longer has a target to produce a complete Land Register by 2012. Instead, it aims to create a comprehensive Land Register as soon as possible and has annual targets. The KPI for 2008-09 was to register 325,000 hectares of voluntary registrations, which was exceeded. The total percentage of England and Wales that is now registered is around 70 per cent.

Land Registry: Fraud

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the number of instances of property fraud involving fraudulent applications to the Land Registry for changes of address in the last 12 months.

Michael Wills: It has taken longer than expected to collate the information requested. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as this is available.

Legal Aid

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of cases which attracted legal aid were criminal cases in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Bridget Prentice: In 2007-08 there were 2,502,500 acts of assistance of which 1,502,100 were for criminal legal aid. Final figures for 2008-09 are not yet available. It must be noted that some individuals may have received more than one act of assistance during the year and some acts of assistance may help more than one person.

Legal Aid

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of cases which attracted legal aid were  (a) housing and welfare and  (b) human rights cases in the latest period for which figures are available.

Bridget Prentice: For civil legal aid, in controlled work (advice and assistance), of 807,460 new matters started, 253,850 were for housing and welfare benefits. For licensed work (representation), of 137,960 certificates granted, 11,780 were for housing and welfare benefits. It is not possible to provide similar information for human rights cases as these are not a recognised case category in the Legal Services Commission's management information systems.

Legal Aid

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department has allocated for expenditure on legal aid in England in each of the next five years.

Maria Eagle: The Department has allocated £2,014 million total resource for legal aid expenditure in 2009-10. Budget allocations for 2010-11 have not yet been finalised. Allocations beyond 2010-11 will not be agreed until after the next spending review.

Legal Aid

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what expenditure the Legal Services Commission has incurred on family law legal aid in each of the last five years.

Bridget Prentice: The net cash expenditure incurred on family legal aid by the Legal Services Commission in each of the last five years is shown in the. Figures for 2008-09 are not yet available.
	
		
			  Cash expenditure on family legal aid 
			   £ million 
			 2007-08 582 
			 2006-07 547 
			 2005-06 536 
			 2004-05 488 
			 2003-04 493

Prisoners

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many offenders were given indeterminate sentences for public protection in each year since 2005;
	(2)  how many offenders serving indeterminate sentences for public protection were being held beyond the expiry of their tariff on the latest date for which information is available;
	(3)  how many prisoners given indeterminate sentences for public protection have been released in each year since 2005.

Jack Straw: The number of offenders given indeterminate sentences of imprisonment for public protection recorded on 21 May 2009 since 2005 is as follows:
	
		
			  Year of s entence  Number sentenced 
			 2005 445 
			 2006 1,610 
			 2007 1,770 
			 2008 1,342 
		
	
	As of 24 April 2009, 1,711 indeterminate sentenced offenders within the prison estate were recorded as having completed the minimum period imposed by the court for punishment and deterrence (the tariff). There is nothing automatic about release once the tariff has expired; an offender serving a sentence of imprisonment for public protection will be released only when the independent Parole Board determines that the risk of harm which he presents may be safely managed in the community.
	The number of prisoners serving indeterminate sentences for public protection released in each year since 2005 is as follows:
	
		
			  Year of release  Number released 
			 2006 1 
			 2007 12 
			 2008 35 
			 2009 (to 30 April 2009) 12 
		
	
	These figures have been drawn from the Public Protection Unit database and the IPP database, as with any large scale recording systems, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Probation Service: Information and Communications Technology

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his most recent estimate is of the number of inaccurate records held on the  (a) Delius,  (b) CRAMS and  (c) other Probation Service IT case management systems.

Jack Straw: The Ministry of Justice's Offender Management and Sentencing Analytical Service has indicated that, on average, no more than 1 per cent. of the caseload, commencement and termination data they receive on a monthly basis from the 42 area systems is incomplete.

Probation: Lancashire

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what the  (a) community and  (b) custody caseload of Lancashire Probation Area was on 31 March in each of the last five financial years;
	(2)  how many  (a) probation officers and  (b) probation service officers were employed by Lancashire Probation Service on 31 March in each of the last five financial years.

Maria Eagle: The information requested in relation to community and custody case load in the Lancashire probation area is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  As at 31 March each year  Community (orders and licences)  Custody (pre-release)  Total 
			 2005 5,187 1,571 6,758 
			 2006 5,319 1,661 6,980 
			 2007 5,865 1,781 7,646 
			 2008 6,271 1,889 8,160 
			 2009 6,218 1,959 8,177 
		
	
	The following table shows the number of probation officers and probation service officers in post in the Lancashire probation trust on 31 March in each of the last five financial years:
	
		
			   Probation officers( 1)  Probation service officers 
			 2003-04 246 147 
			 2004-05 250 143 
			 2005-06 254 152 
			 2006-07 245 146 
			 2007-08 238 103 
			 (1) Probation officer figures include senior probation officers, senior practitioners and probation officers.  Note: Figures are shown as full-time equivalents. 
		
	
	Figures for the year 2008-09 are not yet available.
	Increasing demand for probation services has been matched by increases in staffing levels:
	The probation annual offender case load went up by 32 per cent. between 2001 and 2006, while the number of probation staff increased by 35 per cent.
	Between December 1997 and June 2007, the total number of staff in post in the probation service rose from 13,968 FTE to 20,869 FTE, a rise of 6,901 FTE (49.4 per cent.)
	In 2008-09 the probation service under-spent by around £17 million.
	Funding for the probation service has also increased over this period:
	Since 1997, the probation resource budget has increased by nearly 70 per cent. in real terms.
	Between 2001-02 and 2006-07, total probation spending increased 54 per cent. which included a 40 per cent. increase of local area spend.
	In 2008-09 probation areas' main resource grant increased (in cash terms) by an average of 8 per cent., this includes the £40 million announced earlier in the year.
	In Lancashire, the probation trust has been able to deliver an excellent level of service while achieving staff efficiency.

Reoffenders: Greater London

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment has been made of the effect of London Resettlement Forum projects on re-offending rates in London.

Maria Eagle: The London Resettlement Pilot Projects at Wormwood Scrubs and Holloway Prisons have been reviewed in terms of operational arrangements, but neither of the evaluations specifically assessed the impact of the pilots on reoffending rates. This is because the sample sizes in the pilots were insufficient to prove a significant change in reoffending and the follow-up period required for reoffences to occur would have delayed the findings being made available, to relevant partners.
	Newly published data on local adult reoffending are broken down by probation area and upper tier local authority levels. The reoffending rate for Wandsworth (which includes Putney) between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2008 is 8.41 per cent., compared with 8.70 per cent. for London Probation over the same time period. For further details please see 'Local reoffending results 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2008 England and Wales' available at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/docs/local-adult-reoffending-2008-ii.pdf

Reoffenders: Merseyside

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the re-conviction rate for offenders resident in  (a) Crosby,  (b) Sefton and  (c) Merseyside was in each of the last five years.

David Hanson: The measure of reoffending used to provide National Statistics for England and Wales is not broken down by area. However, newly published data on local adult reoffending (a different measure of reoffending to the National Statistics) are broken down by probation area and upper tier local authority levels.
	As the data are not broken down below the upper tier of the local authority area level there are no figures available for Crosby. The reoffending rate for Sefton metropolitan borough between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2008 is 9.89 per cent. The reoffending rate for Merseyside probation area over the same time period is 9.55 per cent.
	The local measure covers the reoffending of all offenders on the probation case load, aged 18 or over, at a certain point in time (a "snapshot"), while the national measure covers all offenders commencing a court order under probation supervision or released from custody during the first quarter of the year. Additionally, the local measure allows a three-month period for reoffences to be committed, while the national measure allows a year.
	For further details please see "Local reoffending results 1 January 2008—31 December 2008 England and Wales" available at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/docs/local-adult-reoffending-2008-ii-pdf

Roads: Accidents

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many criminal convictions have resulted from hit and run incidents in each year since 1997.

Maria Eagle: Information collected on the Court Proceedings Database held by the Ministry of Justice on the number of findings of guilt for 'accident' offences under the Road Traffic Act 1988 s.170 (4) and (7) does not distinguish offences which resulted in injury from those which resulted in damage or both.
	While the Department for Transport monitors details of road traffic accidents including 'hit and run', this information is not linked with details of any subsequent convictions.

Supreme Court

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent discussions he has had on the establishment of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: My announcement to the House on 2 April 2009,  Official Report, column 80WS, provides the latest update on the development of the United Kingdom Supreme Court. In addition public consultation on the fees payable in the court closed on 5 May 2009.

Young Offenders: Education

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much funding will be allocated to the Youth Justice Board for expenditure on education in  (a) 2009-10,  (b) 2010-11 and  (c) 2011-12.

Jack Straw: For the financial year 2009-10 the Youth Justice Board (YJB) has allocated £26 million for expenditure on education from its Ministry of Justice grant. In addition, the Department for Children, Schools and Families has allocated a further £23 million to the YJB for education expenditure.
	Funding for 2010-11 and 2011-12 has not yet been allocated.

OLYMPICS

Paralympic Games 2012: Finance

Bob Spink: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what her most recent estimate is of the cost of hosting the London 2012 Paralympics archery and wheelchair tennis events at Eton Manor.

Tessa Jowell: The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has responsibility for staging the Olympic and Paralympic Games at existing venues. The direct costs associated with staging the events at existing venues come from LOCOG's revenues which are primarily derived from commercial sponsorship, broadcast rights, ticket sales and merchandising/licensing—not from the public purse.
	There will be attributable costs to the public purse, for example in respect of the security and transport functions associated with the venue. However these costs have not yet been identified separately for individual venues, but they will form part of the overall security and transport budgets.
	In respect of the white water canoe course and Eton Manor, which are being constructed by the Olympic Delivery Authority, the project budgets cannot be disclosed at the current time owing to reasons of commercial sensitivity.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Climate Change

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department has taken to adapt to climate change in the last two years.

Gareth Thomas: All Departments are actively involved in the cross-Government Adapting to Climate Change Programme, which aims to help society adapt to climate change. The role of the programme is to develop and provide a comprehensive evidence base including adaptation tools, to raise awareness of the need to adapt, to measure success and to work across Government at all levels to embed adaptation. Further details about the programme's work can be found at:
	www.defra.gov/adaptation
	The Department for International Development (DFID) has taken a series of comprehensive steps to adapt to climate change in the last two years. Details of these are available on the DFID website:
	www.dfid.gov.uk

Climate Change

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of his Department's potential gross  (a) costs and  (b) savings arising from its climate change adaptation measures in the next three years.

Gareth Thomas: It is not currently possible to provide estimates of the potential costs and savings over the next three years. It has, however, been shown in the Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change that timely and well-targeted climate adaptation measures will yield benefits in excess of their costs.
	In terms of the work of the Department for International Development (DFID), climate change will impose additional costs. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change estimates the costs of adaptation in developing countries at between $28 billion and $67 billion per year by 2030.
	The costs of not acting would be much more significant, however, as climate change threatens to slow and reverse progress towards poverty reduction and sustainable development in developing countries. The UK Government are working to ensure a new deal on climate change that includes sufficient new finance to support developing countries to adapt. Details of UK Government policies, expenditure and steps taken are available on the Department for International Development's website:
	www.dfid.gov.uk

Departmental Data Protection

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what auditing his Department undertakes to ensure that IT security policies are being followed; and on how many occasions  (a) IT security policies have been breached by employees and  (b) a member of staff has been sanctioned for a breach of such policies in the last 12 months.

Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development's compliance arrangements comprise a system of self assessment, accreditation, assurance reporting, audit and review. There have been six IT security breaches in the last 12 months. No members of staff have been disciplined for a breach of IT security policy in the last 12 months.

Departmental Data Protection

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many notifications his Department made to the Information Commissioner in the year ended 30 April 2009 in respect of the loss or mishandling of personal information or data; what was notified in each such case; and how many individuals were the subjects of personal information or data in respect of which such notifications were made.

Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development (DFID) made no such notifications to the Information Commissioner in the year that ended on the 30 April 2009.
	Information is a key asset to Government and its correct handling is vital to the delivery of public services and to the integrity of HMG. The Security Policy Framework and the data handling report produced by the Cabinet Office provide a strategic framework for protecting information that government handles and put in place a set of mandatory measures which Departments must adhere to.

Departmental Data Protection

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many officials in his Department have been  (a) disciplined and  (b) dismissed for (i) breaches of data protection requirements and (ii) inappropriate use of personal or sensitive data in the last 12 months.

Gareth Thomas: No officials have been disciplined or dismissed for breaches of data protection or inappropriate use of personal or sensitive data in the last 12 months.

Sub-Saharan Africa: Politics and Government

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent steps his Department has taken to assist the development of civic society and democratic institutions in sub-Saharan Africa.

Gareth Thomas: Following the 2006 White Paper on International Development, the Department for International Development (DFID) launched a £130 million Governance and Transparency Fund. Details of this are available on the DFID website:
	http://www.dfid.gov.uk/Working-with-DFID/Funding-Schemes/Closed-funds/Governance-and-Transparency-Fund-GTF-/
	DFID also supports democratic institutions and civil society through its country programmes. We have projects providing parliamentary support, either recently completed or ongoing, in eleven African countries.
	Increasingly our support to parliaments is embedded in broader integrated governance and accountability programmes. For example: in Malawi we are supporting a programme to develop more accountable and responsive governance, including support to Parliament, the electoral commission, the media and civil society; in the Democratic Republic of Congo, we support a programme to strengthen democracy and accountability; and in Uganda we support a "Deepening Democracy" programme, including a parliamentary support component.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Council Tax

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will estimate the net effect on public expenditure of a system of central  (a) collection and  (b) administration of council tax

Rosie Winterton: No.

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the level of availability of mortgage finance for households wishing to purchase under  (a) Homebuy Direct,  (b) Ownhome,  (c) OpenMarket HomeBuy,  (d) the First-Time Buyer's Initiative,  (e) MyChoice HomeBuy,  (f) New Build HomeBuy,  (g) Social HomeBuy and  (h) Rent to HomeBuy.

John Healey: For  (a),  (b),  (c),  (d) and  (e) which are shared equity schemes, we have no evidence that purchasers are unable to obtain mortgage finance.
	For  (f) and  (g), which enable purchasers to buy on shared ownership terms, I refer the hon. Member to the answer he was given by my hon. Friend the Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Wright) on 14 May 2009,  Official Report, column 1008W. No mortgage is necessary for Rent to HomeBuy. Prospective purchasers pay a below market rent, while saving for a deposit, and then buy on New Build HomeBuy terms.

Local Government: Pensions

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he expects to bring forward measures obliging local authorities to publish details of the remuneration and pensions provision of chief executives and senior members of staff; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The statutory consultation on draft regulations about disclosure of senior pay in public bodies began on 30 March. It proposes that local authorities include remuneration disclosure in their 2009-10 annual accounts. Subject to a careful consideration of responses, I plan to make and lay the final regulations later this year.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he expects to reply to the letter to his predecessor dated 7 April 2009 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Ed Cox.

John Denham: I have now replied to my right hon. Friend's letter.

Social Rented Housing: Sales

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many properties owned by registered social landlords were sold to tenants between 1997 and 2000.

John Healey: The following table shows the number of registered social landlord properties sold to tenants between 1997-08 and 2000-01.
	
		
			   Number 
			 1997-98 4,695 
			 1998-99 4,536 
			 1999-2000 7,335 
			 2000-01 7,256 
			  Source: Homes and Communities Agency Investment Management System (IMS), and Regulatory and Statistical Returns (RSR) to the Tenant Services Authority (TSA) 
		
	
	Sales to tenants include sales through Right to Buy, Preserved Right to Buy, Right to Acquire and Voluntary Purchase Grant. Sales to tenants have been defined to mean where the tenant is currently occupying the property they are purchasing.

Social Rented Housing: Sales

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how many social housing tenants have made right to buy claims in each region in each year since 1997; how many such claims were accepted in each year; and how many sales were completed in each year;
	(2)  what the discount granted to social tenants under the right to buy scheme has been in each year since 1997.

John Healey: A table showing local authority Right to Buy claims, acceptances and sales for each region for each year since 1997 has been placed in the House Library. This table includes figures on the total value of the discount granted and the information requested on Right to Buy discounts.
	The local authority Right To Buy data are taken from P1B returns from local authorities to CLG.
	Regional estimates of Right to Buy and Preserved Right to Buy sales of properties owned by registered social landlords are also available for 1999-2000 to 2007-08. These are included in Live Table 675 on the CLG website:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/table675.xls
	Figures on the number of claims and acceptances are not available for RSL RTB sales.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Arts

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which government office regions have established regional beacons for creative industries.

Barbara Follett: The North East, Yorkshire and Humber, North West, West Midlands, South West, South East, East and East Midlands regions are all part of a network of regional beacons examining business support given to the Creative Industries by Business Link. A national best practice guide is due to be published by the end of July.

Departmental Marketing

Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been spent by his Department on advertising in weekly and regional newspapers in the last five years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The information requested by the hon. Member is not separately recorded on the Department's accounting system. To provide the information would incur disproportionate cost.

Members: Correspondence

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 2 March 2009,  Official Report, column 579, when he plans to write to the hon. Member for North East Milton Keynes.

Ben Bradshaw: I will shortly be writing to the hon. Member for North East Milton Keynes about this issue. I apologise for the delay in doing so.

Public Houses: Rural Areas

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent representations his Department has received from owners of pubs or organisations representing pubs on the regulatory burden for smaller rural pubs; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department has not received any recent representations on the regulatory burden for smaller rural pubs.
	My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs announced on 5 February a number of new initiatives to support rural businesses, including public houses. These new schemes will complement existing initiatives such as "Pub is the Hub" which was set up in 2001 through the Rural Action Programme of Business in the Community to encourage breweries, pub owners, licensees and local communities to work together to help retain and enhance rural services in isolated areas.
	In addition, the Government have now published their response to the community pubs inquiry report. Hard copies are available in the Vote and Printed Paper Office, and it is also available on the DCMS website:
	http://www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/publications/6137.aspx
	The inquiry report recommendations covered the policy interests of several Government Departments and DCMS collated a cross-government response.

Sports: Coventry

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent steps his Department has taken to provide funding for young people to participate in  (a) cultural and  (b) sporting programmes in Coventry.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 8 June 2009
	The majority of Exchequer funding provided in general support of these activities is channelled to local authorities via settlements from the Department for Communities and Local Government. DCMS works with other Departments and our network of sponsored bodies (NDPBs) to set overarching objectives relating to the sectors for which we have policy responsibility in Government. Recent information relating to Coventry is provided, with much of the detail provided by our family of NDPBs:
	 Sport
	 Free s wimming
	Coventry city council has opted in to both the under 16 and over 60 Free Swimming Programme and will receive revenue monies directly from DCMS. The local authorities that have opted to offer the scheme to both age groups have also received a share of a £10 million capital fund to spend on modernising or improving pool provision in time for the start of the two-year scheme in 2009. Those local authorities that will offer free swimming to both age groups also stand to benefit from a further £25 million capital challenge fund in both 2008-09 and 2010-11 to spend on improving pool facilities.
	 PE and sport strategy for young people
	Coventry, like the rest of England, will benefit from the Government's PE and Sport Strategy for Young People (PESSYP)—the "five hour offer"—which will create a world-class system for PE and sport in England, in which all five to 16-year-olds have access to five hours of high-quality PE and sport per week—and all 16 to 19-year-olds can access up to three hours high-quality PE and sport a week—by 2011.
	'Sport Unlimited' is a Sport England initiative to get more children and young people taking part in sports outside of school in line with PESSYP. 964 young people were involved in Sport Unlimited projects delivered between September 2008 and March 2009, with 713 young people attending 60 per cent. of the sessions. It is predicted that 1,627 young people will be involved in Sport Unlimited activities within Coventry throughout the summer and autumn terms of year 2.
	 One million active people
	Sport England has a target of getting one million people doing more sport by 2012-13. This strategy will be driven by National Governing Bodies of sport (NGBs) through community clubs, coaches, officials and volunteers, including in Coventry.
	 Cultural programmes
	A new national organisation, Creativity, Culture and Education (CCE) has been created to generate transformational cultural and creative programmes for children and young people across England to enhance their aspirations, achievements, skills and life chances, including Creative Partnerships—the Government's flagship creative learning programme. Creative Partnerships has worked on 222 projects with Coventry schools (LEA area) making school more exciting for young people. In the wider Creative Partnerships area, Creative Partnerships has involved 13,250 young people, and 1,651 of their teachers.
	In addition there are six organisations in Coventry (Open Theatre Company, Warwick Arts Centre, Talking Birds Theatre Company, Arts and Media Training, Belgrade Theatre and Theatre Absolute) that are classed by Arts Council England as Regularly Funded Organisations. The latter, Theatre Absolute, has a particular focus towards young people who are at risk.
	 Lottery  f unding
	Finally, organisations supporting young people in Coventry are also likely to have benefited from awards from national lottery distributors, including the Big Lottery Fund. Details of such awards can be found on the National Lottery database at
	www.lottery.culture.gov.uk

TREASURY

Banks

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many investment banks he has visited on official business in the last six months.

Kitty Ussher: Treasury Ministers' official duties entail visits throughout the United Kingdom.

Budget April 2009

Mark Harper: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in full each submission his Department has received on Budget 2009.

Kitty Ussher: Treasury Ministers and officials receive representations from a wide range of organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such representations. However, many representations are available publicly on the respective organisations' websites.

Cabinet: Glasgow

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many  (a) special advisers and  (b) officials of his Department accompanied (i) him and (ii) the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to Glasgow for the Cabinet meeting on 16 April 2009;
	(2)  what car journeys  (a) he and  (b) the Chief Secretary to the Treasury took in attending the Cabinet meeting in Glasgow on 16 April 2009;
	(3)  how much expenditure was incurred by his Department in respect of the Cabinet meeting in Glasgow on 16 April 2009;
	(4)  what expenditure on  (a) travel,  (b) accommodation and  (c) food (i) he, (ii) the Chief Secretary to the Treasury and (iii) officials in his Department incurred in connection with the Cabinet meeting in Glasgow on 16 April 2009.

Kitty Ussher: For information relating to the Cabinet and public engagement event held in Glasgow on 16 April I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, on 3 June 2009,  Official Report, column 487W.

Clemmow Hornby Inge Partners

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what contracts his Department has awarded to Clemmow Hornby Inge Partners since 1 January 2007; and on what dates  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials in his Department have met representatives of Clemmow Hornby Inge Partners since that date.

Kitty Ussher: holding answer 30 March 2009
	The Treasury has had no contracts with Clemmow Hornby Inge Partners since 1 January 2007. Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.

Climate Change

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department has taken to adapt to climate change in the last two years.

Kitty Ussher: All Departments are actively involved in the cross-Government Adapting to Climate Change Programme, which aims to help society adapt to climate change. The role of the programme is to develop and provide a comprehensive evidence base including adaptation tools, to raise awareness of the need to adapt, to measure success and to work across Government at all levels to embed adaptation. Further details about the programme's work can be found at:
	www.defra.gov.uk/adaptation
	As well as working together to tackle issues that affect all Departments and their work, each Government Department is adapting to climate change in its own operations and policies. Reflecting evidence that climate change in the UK is likely to increase the severity and frequency of flooding events, the 2007 comprehensive spending review announced that total government expenditure on flood and coastal erosion risk management will rise from £600 million in 2007-08 to £800 million in 2010-11.
	In addition, Treasury officials have also been working with DEFRA and other Departments to develop supplementary Green Book guidance to enable adaptation to climate change to be taken into account in appraisal and decision-making. It is planned that this will be issued during the summer and made available to all Departments through the Green Book website.

Climate Change

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of his Department's potential gross  (a) costs and  (b) savings arising from its climate change adaptation measures in the next three years.

Kitty Ussher: It is not currently possible to provide estimates of the potential costs and savings over the next three years. It has, however, been shown in the Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change that timely and well-targeted climate adaptation measures will yield benefits in excess of their costs. Some of these benefits will accrue to Departments as cost-savings over the next three years, with further more significant gains to be made in future years. The main rationale for investment to address climate risk will be to reduce the UK's vulnerability to longer-term climate change impacts.
	The Government are undertaking a Climate Change Risk Assessment and Economic Analysis, which will provide estimates of the costs and benefits of adaptation to the UK. This analysis will be presented to Parliament in 2011.
	The Government will also be publishing supplementary appraisal guidance this summer. This will help to ensure that adaptation measures are designed and implemented in a cost-effective manner.

Data Protection

James Brokenshire: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many officials in  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies have been (i) disciplined and (ii) dismissed for (A) breaches of data protection requirements and (B) inappropriate use of personal or sensitive data in the last 12 months.

Kitty Ussher: Under the Treasury's staff conduct and disciplinary policies, a range of informal and formal disciplinary actions can be taken when staff have been found to have breached departmental policies, including those relating to the handling of protected data. It is the Treasury's policy not to release statistics relating to numbers of staff fewer than five whereto do so might lead to the identification of individual cases.
	In the last 12 months, fewer than five staff were subject to action under disciplinary policies in organisations within the Treasury Group.

Departmental Consultants

John Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost of  (a) legal,  (b) taxation,  (c) financial and  (d) other consultancy advice to (i) his Department and (ii) the Bank of England was in 2008-09.

Kitty Ussher: For details of the Treasury's spending on consultants I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable) on 24 April 2009,  Official Report, column 982W.
	Spending by the Bank of England in 2008-09 on consultancy is shown as follows.
	Legal advice: £8,300,000
	Taxation advice: £200,000
	Financial advice: £4,200,000
	Other consultancy advice: £1,800,000
	Of the total, costs amounting to £11,000,000 were covered by income from or charges to customers and counterparties, of which £9,400,000 were in relation to exceptional financial stability measures (mostly recoveries of legal and financial costs). This left a net cost to the Bank of £3,900,000.

Departmental Foreign Workers

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many employees of his Department are Republic of Ireland nationals.

Kitty Ussher: We do not routinely capture this information on our HR database. This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Internet

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department has spent on the maintenance of its website in each year since 2007.

Kitty Ussher: HM Treasury's website receives over 2 million unique visits a year.
	The costs of maintaining the departmental website www.hm-treasury.gov.uk are as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year  Maintenance costs (£)  Unique visits 
			 2008-09 168,549 2,273,204 
			 2007-08 117,332 3,174,007 
			 2006-07 130,781 2,460,197 
		
	
	Maintenance costs includes direct costs, for example web hosting, support, and infrastructure.
	Staff costs are not included as they could only be established at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department has spent on  (a) conference services and  (b) banqueting services in each of the last five years.

Kitty Ussher: For information on the cost (including the cost of refreshments where provided) of conferences attended by 100 people or more in 2006-07 and 2007-08, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Hoban) on 21 July 2008,  Official Report, columns 715-16W. Information on conferences prior to 2006-07 could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Conference costs in 2008-09 are not currently available as they form part of the Treasury's Resource Account, due for publication in the summer, which is subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department spent on event management services in each of the last three years; and whether any such services were supplied by external providers.

Kitty Ussher: The information requested is not held centrally and could not be provided within the disproportionate costs threshold.

Departmental Surveys

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was spent by his Department on staff surveys in  (a) 2007 and  (b) 2008; and which companies were contracted to carry out the surveys.

Kitty Ussher: In 2007, the Treasury employed Towers Perrin-ISR to conduct its annual staff survey. The cost of this survey was £50,581 (inc. VAT). In 2008, the Treasury employed Tribal to conduct its annual staff survey. Information on expenditure in 2008-09 will be available following publication of the Treasury's resource account, in the summer.

Equitable Life Assurance Society

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with Ministerial colleagues on Equitable Life; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what recent discussions the Chief Secretary to the Treasury has had with Ministerial colleagues regarding Equitable Life and compensation for Equitable Life shareholders;
	(2)  what recent discussions the Chief Secretary to the Treasury has had with the Parliamentary Ombudsman regarding Equitable Life.

Ian Pearson: Treasury Ministers and officials have discussions with a wide range of organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such discussions.

Excise Duties: Fuel Oil

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect on the haulage industry of the two pence fuel duty increase planned for September 2009.

Kitty Ussher: Fuel duty is lower in real terms than in 1999. In taking taxation decisions as part of the Budget process, the Government take a range of factors, such as relevant environmental, social and economic factors—including where appropriate those relating to specific sectors—into consideration.
	However, assessments of the cost of fuel duty increases to the haulage industry are subject to significant amounts of variation, as they depend on assumptions made about average mileage and fuel consumption. In addition many hauliers have contracts that allow them to pass these costs on. Furthermore, considering fuel duty in isolation is misleading: overall operating costs in the UK have been found to be broadly similar to those in Italy, Germany, Belgium and The Netherlands.
	Increases to fuel duty should be seen alongside measures announced in Budget 2009 which will benefit the UK road freight industry, such as:
	the temporary increase of capital allowances in 2009-10. A first-year allowance of 40 per cent. will be introduced for new capital investment (such as lorries);
	the freezing of lorry VED rates in 2009;
	the inclusion of vans up to 3.5 tonnes in the scrappage scheme; and
	the commitment to incentivise the choice of Euro VI HGVs once the full details of the standard have been established;
	Budget 2009 also built on the 2008 pre-Budget report, and outlined a series of measures designed to support businesses, which includes hauliers.

GFX Capital Markets

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  on what date the Financial Services Authority  (a) granted and  (b) withdrew authorisation for GFX Capital Markets under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000;
	(2)  what due diligence the Financial Services Authority undertook on Terry Freeman, also known as Terry Sparks, to ensure that he met its fit and proper test for approved persons.

Ian Pearson: The matters raised in these questions are the responsibility of the Financial Services Authority, whose day to day operations are independent from Government control and influence. The FSA will respond to the hon. Member directly.

Income Tax: Repayments

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what target has been set in respect of the time taken by HM Revenue and Customs to process a claim for an income tax refund; and what the  (a) average and  (b) maximum time taken to process such a claim was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Stephen Timms: Refunds made from online self assessment returns are normally made within seven days. For paper returns HM Revenue and Customs identify returns on receipt marked 'repayment' and process these as priority. Sampling of self assessment repayments from October 2008 to April 2009 indicates that 90 per cent. of repayments were made within 30 days.
	99.3 per cent. of repayment claims arising from tax on investment income deducted at source in 2008-09 were processed within 15 working days of receipt against a target of 97 per cent. Figures for the maximum time taken are not available.

Met Office

John Thurso: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what timetable he has set for the completion of the review of the Met Office by Gerry Grimstone; and if he will make a statement.

Kitty Ussher: holding answer 2 June 2009
	The Operational Efficiency Programme has taken a tailored approach to each of the studies in its remit, and carries out a rolling programme of work that reports at six-monthly intervals. Work is now under way on the next steps set out for the Met Office review in the OEP Final Report published April 2009, with the findings of this work dictating the timing of the study's recommendations. Progress will next be reported at the pre-Budget report 2009.

Non-domestic Rates

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what assumptions about the take-up rate of those eligible to defer business rates under the business rates deferral scheme announced on 31 March 2009 were made in preparing the estimates contained in the Budget 2009 Red Book;
	(2)  what assumption his Department made about the cash receipts impact of the business rates deferral scheme in  (a) 2009-10,  (b) 2010-11 and  (c) 2011-12 in preparation for the announcement of the scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Kitty Ussher: The Treasury's approach to calculating the costings of Budget decisions is set out in appendix A2 of the Budget document. DCLG will shortly be publishing an impact assessment for the deferral of business rates, which will set out further details of the cost to the Exchequer.

Public Sector Debt

Angela Watkinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what date he next expects public sector debt to come below 40 per cent. of gross domestic product.

Liam Byrne: In the current global environment of uncertainty, our focus is on ensuring that debt is on a downwards path in the medium term. And we have set out clear plans to do precisely that.

Smuggling: Tobacco

David Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how much of the funding allocated to the Tackling Tobacco Smuggling strategy of 2000 was spent in each of the three years for which funds were allocated;
	(2)  how many  (a) staff,  (b) X-ray scanners,  (c) publicity campaigns and  (d) miscellaneous costs were funded from the £209 million allocated to the Tackling Tobacco Smuggling strategy of 2000 (i) in total and (ii) in each year of the initiative;
	(3)  how much his Department spent on the Tackling Tobacco Smuggling strategy in each year of the programme; how many of his Department's staff worked on implementing the strategy in each year; and how many of these were engaged in  (a) detection,  (b) intelligence-gathering and analysis,  (c) investigations and  (d) the provision of legal advice in each such year;
	(4)  pursuant to the answer of 12 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 721-22W, on smuggling: tobacco, what estimate he has made of the expenditure incurred by his Department on salaries for the full-time equivalent staff allocated to tackling tobacco smuggling  (a) in total,  (b) engaged in detection,  (c) engaged in investigations and  (d) working on intelligence matters in 2007-08;
	(5)  pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2009,  Official Report, column 261W, on smuggling: tobacco, what expenditure his Department has incurred in running the X-ray scanners in each year since 2003;
	(6)  pursuant to the answer of 26 March 2009,  Official Report, column 635W, on smuggling tobacco, what the cost was of the Government's publicity campaigns to prevent tobacco smuggling in each of the last five years.

Kitty Ussher: holding answer 24 April 2009
	It is not possible to provide details of the overall expenditure from allocated funds, to reduce levels of smuggling and supplying of illegal and counterfeit tobacco over the three years. However, we can break down various areas of the Tobacco strategy which are detailed as follows:
	The full-time equivalent of staff employed on tackling tobacco smuggling for 2005-06 to 2007-08 are shown as follows. Figures for 2000-05 are not available.
	
		
			   Detection  Investigation  Intelligence  Total 
			 2005-06 1,407 319 279 2,005 
			 2006-07 1,557 278 295 2,130 
			 2007-08 1,574 287 264 2,125 
			 2008-09 1,500 395 255 2,150 
		
	
	The figures given are HMRC's best estimate of the way resources were used in the years specified, bearing in mind that the work of staff employed on anti-fraud and smuggling activity often covers a number of different taxes and commodities.
	Expenditure incurred on salaries for full-time equivalent staff allocated to tobacco smuggling is shown in the following table. Figures for 2000-06 are not available.
	
		
			  £ 
			   Detection  Investigation  Intelligence  Total 
			 2006-07 61,351,790.69 13,246,434.95 12,246,665,35 86,844,890 
			 2007-08 65,037,870.02 14,243,597.55 11,271,899.07 90,553,366 
			 2008-09 64,257,196.50 19,998,544.53 12,244,642.47 96,500,383.50 
		
	
	HMRC is unable to disaggregate time spent on the provision of legal advice on tobacco from related matters on time spent on other advisory work.
	HMRC's fleet of mobile X-ray scanners has made a vitally important contribution to the success of the tobacco smuggling strategy. HMRC has had 14 scanners in operation since 2003. These scanners were purchased between 2000 and 2001 at a total cost of £29,663,005.
	There are substantial maintenance costs for all the 14 scanners currently in operation. The annual maintenance costs per unit are as follows:
	
		
			  Number  Monthly maintenance (£)  Total annual cost (£) 
			 4 24,519 1,176,912 
			 6 14,788 1,064,736 
			 4 6,768 324,864 
		
	
	Five new scanners have recently been purchased at a cost of £842,000 per scanner with ongoing maintenance costs of £180,000 per scanner over a 10-year contract.
	HM Revenue and Customs have spent almost £1.5 million (excluding VAT) on targeted media campaigns to support their anti-tobacco smuggling strategy in the last five years. The costs per year are shown as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2003-04 672,449 
			 2004-05 83,368 
			 2005-06 556,382 
			 2006-07 91,993 
			 2007-08 55,000 
		
	
	I regret it is not possible to provide details of miscellaneous costs under the Tobacco strategy.

Smuggling: Tobacco

David Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  whether his Department has undertaken research into the effectiveness of track and trace technology used in other countries for tobacco products;
	(2)  whether tobacco companies are responsible for passing on track and trace information on their own products to his Department;
	(3)  how many tobacco products sold in the UK in 2008-09 were monitored by HM Revenue and Customs by using track and trace technology.

Kitty Ussher: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) keeps abreast of developments in tracking and tracing techniques through its regular contacts with UK tobacco manufacturers and customs authorities in other EU member states, and through its participation in the development of the illicit trade protocol to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. HMRC is particularly supportive of efforts by the tobacco manufacturers to develop an industry-wide standard tracking and tracing system.
	HMRC has legislation in place which requires tobacco manufacturers to control their supply chains. This legislation was introduced to reinforce the existing memoranda of understanding with tobacco manufacturers and requires manufacturers to provide tracking and tracing information for all seizures that meet the supply chain legislation criteria. These criteria are currently set at 100,000 cigarettes and 50 kg of hand-rolling tobacco.
	HMRC does not require tobacco manufacturers to provide tracking and tracing information for goods on which UK excise duty has been paid and which are sold legitimately in the UK. As such, no tobacco products legitimately sold in the UK were monitored by HMRC using track and trace technology.

Tax Avoidance

Lorely Burt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the sums which have accrued to the Exchequer attributable to IR35 measures in each financial year since their introduction;
	(2)  how many people HM Revenue and Customs and its predecessor have employed to manage claims under IR35 measures since their introduction; and at what cost;
	(3)  how many cases HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has brought against  (a) individuals and  (b) companies under IR35 measures in each year since their introduction; how many such cases have been settled in HMRC's favour; and how many cases are outstanding;
	(4)  what the average length of an inquiry undertaken by HM Revenue and Customs under IR35 measures has been in each financial year since their introduction;
	(5)  what claims under performance indicators HM Revenue and Customs uses to monitor the performance of its team investigating claims under IR35 measures; and what performance was recorded against such indicators in each financial year since the introduction of IR35.

Kitty Ussher: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 5 May 2009,  Official Report, column 64W, to the hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr. Hammond).
	HMRC has not employed additional employees to deal with IR35 and deploys resources in accordance with its compliance strategy.
	HMRC conducts Employer Compliance reviews where IR35 is one of a possible number of risks. A number of reviews result in further action. Some are settled by agreement and the others go before a tribunal for resolution. Aggregative data about how such specific inquiries are settled are not routinely collected.
	HMRC does not collect data about the average length of inquires undertaken where IR35 was considered to be a risk.
	HMRC does not have any specific IR35 performance indicators. HMRC compliance activity is aligned to its Departmental Strategic Objectives as set out on page 18 of HMRC's Autumn Performance Report 2008. Additional performance indicators are shown in Section 5, pages 42 and 43, of the same report:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/about/reports.htm

Taxation: Construction

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to standardise the taxation rate for inert waste to encourage reuse and reclamation of construction materials.

Kitty Ussher: Landfill tax is a UK wide tax on the disposal of waste by way of landfill at authorised landfill sites. There are two rates of landfill tax which reflects the significant environmental impact landfilling has on the environment.
	The standard rate applies to active wastes that decay, currently set at £40 per tonne. The lower rate applies to inactive or inert wastes, currently set at £2.50 per tonne, which reflects the fact that they have less of an environmental impact than active wastes, which can emit greenhouse gases such as methane.
	Wastes that benefit from the lower rate are listed in the Landfill Tax (Qualifying Material) Order 1996. These include rocks and soils and concrete materials that may be considered construction materials.

Taxation: Domicile

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many investigations his Department has pursued into non-domiciled status cases in each of the last five years.

Stephen Timms: The requested information is not available.
	HM Revenue and Customs do not collate information on investigations in this form. Where domicile is an issue within an inquiry it is rarely the only one and may or not be the initial reason that the inquiry was started. Statistics on domicile are not separated from other issues in such inquiries.

Taxation: Domicile

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many claims for non-domiciled status for tax purposes have been  (a) granted and  (b) refused in each of the last five years.

Stephen Timms: HM Revenue and Customs do not hold the information requested.

Taxation: Repayments

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to reimburse compound interest to taxpayers in cases of overpayment of  (a) value added tax and  (b) domestic and non-domestic rates.

Stephen Timms: VAT law provides that interest, calculated at a simple rate, should be paid to taxpayers who have overdeclared VAT as a result of official error. It also provides that taxpayers are charged interest at a simple rate if they have underdeclared VAT. To claim interest on overdeclarations of VAT, taxpayers have to make a valid claim in writing to HMRC within prescribed time limits. The question of whether HMRC is liable to pay compound or simple interest on overdeclared VAT claims is currently the subject of litigation and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.
	A council tax payer is entitled to request a refund of overpaid council tax following a council tax rebanding. However, there is no requirement in the council tax legislative framework for local authorities to pay interest on any overpayment of council tax.
	If a non-domestic ratepayer overpays their liability, as well as providing a refund, the Non-Domestic Rating (Payment of Interest Regulations) 1990 provide for billing authorities to pay an additional amount by way of interest. There are no provisions in the regulations for the payment of compound interest to ratepayers.

VAT: Bingo

Greg Hands: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the annual revenue which would be forgone by the Exchequer from the removal of value added tax on interval bingo.

Kitty Ussher: It is estimated that the removal of value added tax on interval bingo would forego around £25 million in revenue in 2009-10. This includes the impact of value added tax removal on excise duty revenues from bingo and other gambling sectors.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Academies

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what criteria Partnerships for Schools apply to determine whether an academy should be built through the National Framework.

Vernon Coaker: Partnership for Schools (PfS), the NDPB responsible for the delivery of the Building Schools for Future (BSF) programme, actively seeks to deliver all schools through established Local Education Partnerships. If this is not possible as a result of the local authority in question not currently being part of the BSF programme or if the LEP is unable to respond to the time scale required then the national framework will be considered as a delivery option.

Academies

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what the average length of the  (a) brokering phase,  (b) period between statement of interest to expression of interest,  (c) period between expression of interest to funding agreement and  (d) period between funding agreement to opening was in respect of new academies which entered the brokering phase between (i) June 2005 and June 2006, (ii) June 2006 and June 2007, (iii) June 2007 and June 2008 and (iv) June 2008 and May 2009;
	(2)  what the length of the  (a) brokering phase,  (b) period between statement of interest to expression of interest,  (c) period between expression of interest to funding agreement and  (d) period between funding agreement to opening was for each academy which has opened.

Vernon Coaker: We do not keep central records of when brokering discussions begin for academy projects. The statement of intent (SOI) phase has only been a formally recorded part of the process since 2007. It would be beyond the cost-threshold to provide the data as requested. I have placed a table in the House Libraries which sets out the time frame of each phase for open academies and all current projects which have passed EOI stage. Where there is no SOI and the FA is yet to be signed, the date of the EOI is provided.
	The average period between SOI and expression of interest (EOI) is six months and EOI to funding agreement (FA) is 17 months. For all open academies, the average between the funding agreement stage and opening date is eight months.

Care Proceedings

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many applications were made by local authorities for care orders during  (a) July,  (b) August,  (c) September,  (d) November and  (e) December 2008.

Diana Johnson: The number of public law care and supervision applications under section 31 of the Children Act 1989 in the months July to December 2008 is given in the following table. Public law cases are those brought by local authorities or an authorised person (currently only the NSPCC). Figures relate to the number of children that are subject to each application and have been rounded to the nearest 10. Please note that 2008 figures are provisional.
	Comparisons between single months should be made with caution as the monthly figures are subject to more volatility than those covering longer time periods.
	
		
			  Number of public law care and supervision applications under section 31 of the Children Act 1989, England and Wales; county courts and family proceedings courts 
			  2008  Family proceedings courts( 1)  County courts( 2)  Total 
			 July 800 310 1,110 
			 August 780 160 930 
			 September 830 180 1,010 
			 October 870 200 1,070 
			 November 1,090 160 1,240 
			 December 1,270 230 1,500 
			 (1) There have been data quality issues with figures for family proceedings courts. A new method of collection was introduced in April 2007 which has improved the coverage and completeness of data. (2) Research undertaken on behalf of Ministry of Justice has identified that some cases that have transferred from the family proceedings court to the county court have been incorrectly recorded as new applications in the county court, thus inflating the reported number of new applications through double counting (see Masson et al 2008).  Source: HMCS FamilyMan and manual returns, as at January 2009.

Child Minding: Manpower

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many registered child minders there were in each local authority in each quarter in each year since 2003; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Information on the number of registered child minders in each local authority in each quarter of each year since 2003 has been placed in the House Libraries.

Class Sizes

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how much funding his Department has allocated to reducing class sizes in schools in  (a) Mid Bedfordshire and  (b) the East of England schools in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how much funding his Department has allocated to employing more teachers for schools in  (a) Mid Bedfordshire and  (b) the East of England schools in each year since 1997.

Vernon Coaker: Local authorities are responsible for the distribution of funding (including funding provided through the dedicated schools grant (DSG)) to schools in their area. Each local authority in consultation with their schools forum can choose to include a factor in their funding formula to direct resources to schools with infant classes to enable them to meet the class size duty. The Department does not collect information on how much funding was allocated to employing more teachers for Mid Bedfordshire and eastern region schools.
	In 2008-09 the final DSG amount for Bedfordshire was £227.69 million. The 2009-10 final DSG amount for central Bedfordshire are yet to be published.

Departmental Billing

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of invoices his Department has paid within 10 days of receipt in each of the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Diana Johnson: The number and percentage of invoices paid within the Government's 10 day target over the last seven months for the Department for Children, Schools and Families was as follows:
	
		
			  Date  Number  of invoices  Percentage 
			 November 2008 3,588 91.6 
			 December 2008 3,712 90.1 
			 January 2009 3,629 91.8 
			 February 2009 4,195 92.5 
			 March 2009 5,500 93.2 
			 April 2009 3,947 84.1 
			 May 2009 3,061 92.0

Education Maintenance Allowance

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will make it his policy to extend eligibility for the education maintenance allowance in the 2009-10 financial year to children from households with a projected annual income of less than £30,810; and if he will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: For most young people, eligibility for education maintenance allowance (EMA) is subject to an assessment of their household income based on the financial year prior to the academic year in which they start their course. The assessment will be based on evidence of that income. The upper threshold to qualify for EMA is £30,810. If they meet other eligibility criteria such as being a young person aged 16 to 18 and on a relevant course, and residency requirements, applicants will qualify for EMA if the income evidence supports that.
	A successful assessment provides a young person with a guaranteed entitlement of up to three years of EMA on the same rate, plus a guaranteed minimum level of non-repayable student support should they progress into higher education within three years. It is appropriate that such guarantees for long term support for those who need it are provided on the basis of evidence rather than conjecture.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of those enrolled in an entry to employment programme have received the maximum education maintenance allowance in each month since June 2008.

Vernon Coaker: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) who operate the education maintenance allowance (EMA) for the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF). Geoffrey Russell, the LSC's acting chief executive, will write to the hon. Member for Castle Point with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Libraries.

Education: Standards

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 11 May 2009,  Official Report, column 583W, on education: standards, which qualifications considered for approval by the Joint Advisory Council for Certificates have  (a) not been approved,  (b) been referred back and  (c) been approved; and if he will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: The qualifications considered to date by the Joint Advisory Committee for Qualifications Approval (JACQA) are listed in the following tables:
	
		
			  Table 1: Qualifications considered by JACQA at December 2008 meeting 
			  Awarding organisation  Qualification title 
			  Recommended for approval  
			 EDEXCEL Level 2 NVQ in Specialist Plant Machinery Operations (Lifting and Transferring) 
			 City and Guilds Level 2 Diploma in Women's Hairdressing Services 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Qualifications considered by JACQA at March 2009 meeting 
			  Awarding organisation  Qualification title 
			  (a) Not recommended for approval  
			 ILEX Level 6 Certificate in Law 
			   
			  (b) Referred back  
			 NCFE Level 3 Certificate in Early Years Foundation Stage Practice (QCF) 
			 City and Guilds Level 2 Award in F-Gas and ODS Regulations: Categories I/II/III/IV (QCF) 
			 EDI Level 2 Certificate in Warehousing and Storage Principles (QCF) 
			 ABC Level 3 Certificate in Textile Technology (QCF) 
			 CACHE Level 3 Certificate in Support Teaching and Learning in Schools 
			 CYQ Level 3 Certificate in Sports Massage 
			 City and Guilds Level 2 Award in Understanding Stewarding at Spectator Events (QCF) 
			 City and Guilds Level 1 Award in Preparation for Event Volunteering (QCF) 
			 ABC Level 1 Award in Basic Landscaping (QCF) 
			 NCFE Level 2 NVQ in Providing Security Services 
			 EDEXCEL Level 2 NVQ in Providing Security Services 
			 CACHE Level 2 Award in Support Work in Schools 
			 CACHE Level 3 Award in Support Work in Schools 
			 OCR Level 2 Award in Support Work in Schools 
			 OCR Level 2 Certificate in Support Work in Schools 
			 OCR Level 3 Award in Support Work in Schools 
			 OCR Level 3 Certificate in Support Work in* Schools 
			 OCR Level 3 Diploma in Support Work in Schools 
			 EDI Level 3 NVQ in Starting a New Business Enterprise 
			 CACHE Level 2 Award in Playwork 
			 C Skills Awards Level 3 Diplomas in Civil Engineering (QCF) 
			 EDI Level 2 NVQ in Advice and Guidance Support 
			 EDI Level 3 NVQ in Advice and Guidance Support 
			 C Skills Awards Level 2 NVQ in Hire and Rental Operations 
			 NCFE Level 2 NVQ in Customer Service 
			 NCFE Level 3 NVQ in Occupational Health and Safety 
			 City and Guilds Level 3 NVQ in Nail Services 
			 NCFE Level 3 NVQ in Customer Service 
			 City and Guilds Level 2 Certificate in Working in the Photo Imaging Industry 
			 City and Guilds Level 3 Certificate in Business Skills for Photo Imaging Industry 
			 NCFE Level 3 Award in Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector (QCF) 
			 NCFE Level 4 Award in Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector (QCF) 
			 CIH Level 2 Award in Community Action Housing 
			 EDEXCEL Level 2 NVQ in Road Passenger Transport Operations 
			   
			  (c) Recommended for approval  
			 ABC Level 2 Diploma in Shoe Repair, Key Cutting and Associated Multi Services (QCF) 
			 ABC Level 2 Award in Shoe Repair, Key Cutting and Associated Multi Services (QCF) 
			 ABC Level 2 Certificate in Shoe Repair, Key Cutting and Associated Multi Services (QCF) 
			 ABC Level 4 Diploma in Visual Merchandising for Retail (QCF) 
			 ABC Level 4 Diploma in Buying and Merchandising for Fashion Retail (QCF) 
			 NCFE Level 4 NVQ in Fire and Rescue Sector Control Operations 
			 EDEXCEL Level 3 NVQ in Fire and Rescue Sector Control Operations 
			 EDI Level 4 NVQ in Advice and Guidance 
			 City and Guilds Level 3 Certificate in Early Years Foundation Stage Practice (QCF)

GCE A-Level

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 26 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1073W on GCSE A level, how many and what percentage of the 247 schools that did not enter any pupils for an A level in physics in 2006-07 entered at least one pupil for an A level in applied science.

Vernon Coaker: Of the 247 maintained mainstream schools that did not enter any pupils for an A-level in physics in 2006/07, 33 (13 per cent.) entered at least one candidate for a single or double award A-level in applied science in the same year.

GCSE

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils who achieved grade five in science at key stage two in 2003 went on to achieve a grade C or higher in  (a) physics,  (b) biology,  (c) chemistry,  (d) double award science and  (e) single award science at GCSE.

Diana Johnson: The answer is provided in the following table.
	
		
			   Physics  Chemistry  Biology  Core science  Core and additional science 
			  Number of pupils who achieved a grade C or higher in selected GCSEs and  
			 Achieved level 5 in KS2 science 50,193 50,849 52,588 162,580 138,110 
			 Took KS2 tests but did not receive level 5 in KS2 science 7,014 7,348 8,835 113,379 73,820 
			   
			 Other 224 228 259 1,671 1,096 
			   
			 Prior attainment not available 6,196 6,338 6,577 14,116 11,586 
			  Source: National Pupil Database. 
		
	
	The figures relate to pupils who were at the end of key stage 4 in 2008 and include any GCSE attempts by these pupils in previous academic years. Only full GCSEs have been included.
	Not all of these pupils will have taken their key stage 2 tests in 2003.
	Pupils who took their KS2 tests in 2003 may not have reached the end of key stage 4 in 2008.
	These pupils are not included in these figures.
	'Other' includes pupils working below the level of the test and those absent or with missing results. Some pupils have no prior attainment available (for example pupils who took their KS2 tests in Scotland or Wales).
	Double and single award science courses were terminated in 2008. Provided instead are figures for pupils who took only core science and those that took both core and additional science.

GCSE: History

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  in how many and what proportion of mainstream maintained schools which entered more than 10 candidates for GCSE history all pupils gained a grade A* to C in that subject in the latest year for which figures are available;
	(2)  in how many and what proportion of mainstream maintained schools which entered one or more candidates for GCSE history no pupil achieved a grade A* to C in that subject in the latest year for which figures are available.

Vernon Coaker: Of all the mainstream maintained schools who entered more than 10 pupils for GCSE history, in 52 (1.8 per cent.) schools all pupils gained grades A*-C in 2008.
	Of all the mainstream maintained schools who entered one or more pupils for GCSE History, in 10 (0.3 per cent.) schools no pupils gained grades A*-C in 2008.
	Data relate to pupils at the end of KS4 and include GCSE only.

GCSE: History

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families in how many and what proportion of mainstream maintained schools no pupil was entered for GCSE history in the latest year for which figures are available.

Vernon Coaker: Of all the mainstream maintained schools, 96 (3.1 per cent.) did not enter any pupils for GCSE history in 2008.
	Data relates to pupils at the end of KS4 and includes GCSE only.

History: Primary Education

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will make it a requirement of the school curriculum that all children between school years 7 and 11 are taught British history from the period prior to the Roman Conquest to the end of the 20th century; and if he will make a statement.

Diana Johnson: History is compulsory in schools up to the age of 14 and the key stage three national curriculum programme of study for history requires pupils to be taught a substantial amount of British history, for example the major events, changes and developments in British history covering at least the medieval, early modern, industrial and twentieth-century periods. History is not compulsory post 14 to allow greater flexibility within the curriculum. However it remains popular at KS4 and beyond. At GCSE at least 25 per cent. of the syllabus must cover a coherent element of British history and/or the history of England, Scotland, Ireland or Wales.
	The new KS3 national curriculum was introduced from September 2008 following widespread consultation and we have no plans for further change so soon after its introduction.

National Curriculum Tests

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority on progress made in marking the 2009 national standard assessment tests; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  when he expects 2009 national standard assessment test results to be available to schools; and if he will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: The former Minister of State for Schools and Learners met Andrew Hall, acting chief executive of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA), on Wednesday 3 June to discuss progress in delivery of the national curriculum tests, including the marking of papers. Officials are continuing to monitor progress closely, and provide Ministers with regular updates on progress. QCA advise that they are currently on schedule to deliver results to schools by 7 July.

National Curriculum Tests

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when he expects the  (a) Key Stage 2 and  (b) Key Stage 3 Standard Assessment Tests results for 2009 to be published.

Vernon Coaker: The Key Stage 2 National Curriculum Tests results for 2009 will be published on the departmental website at 9.30 am on 4 August 2009.
	There are no longer any National Curriculum Tests at the end of Key Stage 3.

National Curriculum Tests

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many additional markers the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority has recruited to assist in the marking of  (a) Key Stage 2 and  (b) Key Stage 3 Standard Assessment Tests in 2009.

Vernon Coaker: The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) is responsible for the administration of the national curriculum tests. Key Stage 2 tests in English, maths and science were sat in May 2009 and are being externally marked. The QCA's supplier originally recruited a total of 5,287 markers, as at 24 April. Subsequent to 24 April, a further 161 markers were recruited to maintain marking capacity and ensure adequate reserve markers.
	In 2009 it is for schools to decide whether they use optional Key Stage 3 tests. No markers have been recruited as these tests are not externally marked.

Pre-school Education: Manpower

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many registered  (a) childcare providers and  (b) childminders there were in each local authority area in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Diana Johnson: Information on the number of  (a) registered child care providers and  (b) registered child minders in each local authority for the years 2001 and 2003-09 has been placed in the House Libraries. Data were not collected in 2002 due to the transfer of responsibility from local authorities to Ofsted.

Pupil Places

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the Answer from the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster of 30 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 956-7W, on child birth, if he will estimate the number of school places which will be required in the state sector in each year between 2008 and 2031 assuming  (a) the principal national population projection of the Office for National Statistics,  (b) a rate of migration of six per cent. below the principal national population projection and  (c) net inward migration of 60,000 in each year to 2031.

Vernon Coaker: National pupil projections take account of several factors, including actual pupil numbers derived from the School Census, expected trends in participation for children outside statutory school ages, and the latest population projections produced by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
	The following tables show the actual number of pupils in maintained and state funded schools in 2008 and 2009 together with the projected number of pupils up until 2017. Projections beyond 2017 are not shown here due to the increasing uncertainty over time. The projected pupil numbers take account of 2006-based principal national population projections. These population projections include assumptions about future levels of fertility, mortality and migration. Details of these assumptions are published on the ONS website at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_population/PT129_Long_term_assumptions.pdf
	
		
			  Local authority maintained and state funded schools: full time equivalent number of pupils—years 2008 and 2009 ( a ctual); coverage: England 
			  Thousand 
			   FTE number of pupils 
			 2008 7,385 
			 2009(1) 7,335 
			 (1) Provisional.  Notes: 1. Includes maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools, pupil referral units, city technology colleges and academies. 2. Full time equivalent numbers count part time pupils as 0.5. 3. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 1,000. 4. Includes pupils with sole and dual registration.  Source: School Census 
		
	
	
		
			  Local authority maintained and state funded schools: full time equivalent number of pupils—years 2010 to 2017 (projections); coverage: England 
			  Thousand 
			   FTE number of pupils 
			 2010 7,340 
			 2011 7,361 
			 2012 7,398 
			 2013 7,447 
			 2014 7,502 
			 2015 7,572 
			 2016 7,654 
			 2017 7,748 
			  Notes: 1. Includes maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools, pupil referral units, city technology colleges and academies. 2. Full time equivalent numbers count part time pupils as 0.5. 3. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 1,000. 4. Projections use the mid 2006-based ONS population projections and are based on 2007 School Census data. Updated projections (for ages up to and including 15) are due to be published in the Departmental Report on 12 June. 5. Includes pupils with sole and dual registration. 6. Experience has shown that totals in maintained primary and secondary schools are usually within ±0.2 per cent. for the first projected year. There is less certainty in the longer term. Factors which contribute to differences between projections and outturn data include the underlying population trends, participation among those under and over compulsory school age, and variations of proportions attending independent schools. Projections are increasing in uncertainty. 7. Projections allow for increase in take up of early years education towards universal provision.  Source: DCSF pupil projections 
		
	
	Updated projections for the number of pupils (aged up to and including 15) will be published in the 2009 Departmental Report on Friday 12 June. These will take into account provisional 2009 School Census data.
	The ONS also produce population projections based on 'zero migration' variant. The 'zero migration' variant projection assumes that net migration will be zero at all ages throughout the projection period but makes the same assumptions about future fertility and mortality as the principal projection.
	As part of the pupil projections work programme, officials plan to investigate the migration component of the pupil projections using the 'zero migration' (natural change only) variant. This is expected to be completed by early autumn 2009. Once this work has been completed we will then be able to explore scenarios for different levels of migration.

Pupils: Assessments

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when he expects the Joint Advisory Committee for Qualifications Approval to announce its recommendation on the eligibility of Cambridge International Certificate qualifications for state funding.

Vernon Coaker: Cambridge International Certificates was accredited by Ofqual before the deadline set for qualifications being put to JACQA for advice, and are therefore being considered against the previous process. The Government have been seeking detailed advice on whether the qualifications meet the old criteria for approval for use in maintained schools and expect to write to Cambridge International Examinations shortly.

Schools: Merseyside

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how much funding his Department has allocated for the employment of a greater number of teachers in  (a) Crosby and  (b) Merseyside schools in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how much funding his Department has allocated to reducing class sizes in schools in  (a) Crosby and  (b) Merseyside in each year since 1997.

Vernon Coaker: Local authorities are responsible for the distribution of funding (including funding provided through the dedicated schools grant (DSG)) to schools in their area. Each local authority in consultation with their Schools Forum can choose to include a factor in their funding formula to direct resources to schools with infant classes to enable them to meet the class size duty. The Department does not collect information on how much funding was allocated to employing more teachers for Crosby and Merseyside schools. In 2008-09 the final DSG amount for Sefton local authority was £157.65 million. The 2009-10 final DSG amount for Sefton is yet to be published.

Teaching Methods

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much funding his Department has allocated to the development of internet or e-based learning in schools in  (a) Crosby and  (b) Merseyside in each year since 1997.

Vernon Coaker: The Department does not keep records of data on funding allocations in the form requested.

Special Educational Needs: GCSE

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of pupils with statements of special educational need attended mainstream secondary schools at which less than  (a) 10 per cent.,  (b) 20 per cent. and  (c) 30 per cent. of pupils obtained fewer than five A* to C grades in GCSE in 2007-08.

Diana Johnson: Pupils at the end of key stage 4 with statements of SEN, in 2008, are as follows:
	
		
			   Number  Percentage 
			  Those attending maintained mainstream schools at which:   
			 10 per cent. or fewer pupils achieve fewer than five GCSEs at grade A*-C 265 2.0 
			 20 per cent. or fewer pupils achieve fewer than five GCSEs at grade A*-C 1,169 8.9 
			 30 per cent. or fewer pupils achieve fewer than five GCSEs at grade A*-C 3,778 28.7 
		
	
	
		
			   Number  Percentage 
			  Those attending maintained mainstream schools at which  fewer than :   
			 10 per cent. or fewer pupils achieve fewer than five GCSEs at grade A*-C including English and maths 60 0.5 
			 20 per cent. or fewer pupils achieve fewer than five GCSEs at grade A*-C including English and maths 209 1.6 
			 30 per cent. or fewer pupils achieve fewer than five GCSEs at grade A*-C including English and maths 697 5.3 
		
	
	Only those schools published in the 2008 achievement and attainment tables have been included in this analysis.

Specialist Schools: Science

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families with reference to the answer of 10 November 2008,  Official Report, column 900W, on specialist schools: science, how many of the 433 specialist schools that have chosen science as one of their specialisms entered a pupil for GCSE physics in 2008.

Vernon Coaker: Of all 433 schools with a specialism in sciences, 311 (71.8 per cent.) entered at least one pupil for GCSE(1) physics in 2008.
	(1) Only full GCSEs have been counted.
	 Source
	Achievement and Attainment Tables database

Specialist Schools: Science

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much funding his Department has allocated towards the development of internet or e-based learning in schools in  (a) Mid Bedfordshire and  (b) the East of England schools in each year since 1997.

Vernon Coaker: The Department does not keep records of data on funding allocations in the form requested.

Young People: Mentally Ill

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps the Government are taking to ensure that its inclusion agenda takes into account young people with chronic and severe mental health disorders.

Diana Johnson: The Government announced an independent review of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in the Children's Plan. The review considered progress made in delivering services to meet the educational, health and social care needs of children and young people at risk of and experiencing mental health problems, including those with complex, severe and persistent needs; and practical solutions to address challenges and deliver better outcomes. The review and the Government's response to its report, together with work we are taking forward around PSA 12—improving the health and wellbeing of children and young people—demonstrate our determination to ensure the right services reach children with acute problems.
	The Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL) programme seeks to develop the social and emotional skills of all pupils through a whole-school approach, and across the curriculum. The small group work element of SEAL aims to address the needs of pupils who need more support in this area to develop their social and emotional skills. Wave 3 provides intensive, specialist support necessary for pupils with severe behaviour difficulties, or mental health problems.
	Following publication of the CAMHS Review report, "Children and Young People in Mind", the Government set up a National Advisory Council for children's mental health and psychological wellbeing. The National Advisory Council has agreed that one of its key focuses will be to take forward work around removing the stigma associated with mental health issues.
	Schools and local authorities are statutorily required to have regard to the SEN code of practice for children and young people whose chronic and severe mental health needs entail special educational needs (SEN). The code says that local authorities should have effective arrangements in place to ensure the needs of children and young people with SEN are assessed quickly and matched by appropriate provision, and that schools must do their best to ensure necessary provision is made for pupils with SEN. Special educational needs include those entailing behavioural, emotional and social difficulties.
	The Government's guidance, "Access to education for children and young people with medical needs" is clear that "School policies and practices need to be as positive and proactive as possible in order to welcome the child or young person back into school and to assist successful reintegration. Consultation with the child and parents about concerns, medical issues, timing and pace of return is important. For some, reintegration is likely to be a gradual process over a period of time. Initially some children and young people will benefit from flexible arrangements which may include attending school part-time while retaining some other support. Others may require alternative provision to allow them to cope with peer relationships and a school environment, before a gradual return to school is possible. Support may need to continue to be available on return to school". Local authorities are responsible for ensuring that an individually tailored reintegration plan is in place for all pupils before they return to school. The plan should have multi-agency approval, and schools have a key role to play.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Climate Change

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department has taken to adapt to climate change in the last two years.

Patrick McFadden: All Government Departments are actively involved in the cross-Government Adapting to Climate Change Programme, which aims to help society adapt to climate change. The aim of the programme is to develop and provide a comprehensive evidence base, including adaptation tools, to raise awareness of the need to adapt, to measure success and to work across government at all levels to embed adaptation. Further details about the programme's work can be found at:
	www.defra.gov/adaptation
	As well as working together to tackle issues that affect all Departments and their work, each Government Department is adapting to climate change in its own operations and policies. BIS has installed new automated metering and targeting systems across its HQ estate which will allow us to monitor our energy consumption, and ensure its appropriate. In addition, a programme to install a new Building Management System and improved controls at 1 Victoria street is being undertaken and should help to improve energy efficiency. We will also, where appropriate, seek to utilise technological improvements such as installing LED lighting.

Company Liquidations: Essex

Bob Spink: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many businesses in  (a) Essex and  (b) Castle Point entered administration in the last 12 months.

Patrick McFadden: There were 5,273 administrations (Enterprise Act 2002) in England and Wales between April 2008 and March 2009. Statistics covering business administrations are not currently available on a regional basis within England and Wales.

Construction: Training

Sarah Teather: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much each regional development agency spent on construction skills training in each of the last five years.

Patrick McFadden: The following table shows RDA expenditure on construction skills training in the last five years.
	
		
			   RDA spend on construction skills training (£ thousand) 
			  RDA  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 AWM(1) 7,374 3,686 3,010 5,012 4,281 
			 EEDA 0 0 1,435 751 2,320 
			 EMDA 213 345 973 332 338 
			 LDA 842 1,471 2,074 3,349 7,455 
			 NWDA 0 0 1,050 0 0 
			 ONE 100 100 628 142 121 
			 SEEDA 30 138 0 137 100 
			 SWRDA 79 253 981 360 106 
			 YF 1,366 343 243 88 389 
			 (1) AWM figures are higher than the RDA average as their construction skills training primarily gap funding towards the building of new colleges, such as Stoke College's Buslem Campus and The Centre for the Built Environment at South Birmingham College.

Departmental Work Experience

David Willetts: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department has allocated to the new internship scheme as referred to in his Department's press release of 13 May 2009.

David Lammy: Graduate Talent Pool is a new initiative to boost the number of internships available for graduates this summer and autumn. We aim to provide 5,000 extra internships, sitting alongside thousands of other opportunities for graduates to build the skills that are valued by employers.
	The new Graduate Talent Pool website at:
	www.dius.gov.uk/graduatetalentpool
	offers advice and information to any employers who are interested in creating a graduate internship, and allows them to post vacancy details ready for the full launch of the graduate facing service at:
	www.direct.gov.uk/graduatetalentpool
	in July. The Department has allocated just under £800,000 to cover the provision of the website and other infrastructure, and the dissemination of information to graduates and employers about the initiative.

East of England Development Agency: Public Relations

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovations and Skills how much the East of England Development Agency has spent on retaining external advice on public relations in each year since it was established; which public relations organisations were retained; and for what purposes in each case.

Patrick McFadden: EEDA does not retain external advice on public relations. We have a team of in-house professionals which manage the corporate promotion of EEDA and our projects.

European Union

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovations and Skills what the cost to the public purse of the contribution of each regional development agency towards its regional office in Brussels was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Patrick McFadden: The following table shows each RDA's contribution to their regional office in Brussels for the financial year 2007-08.
	
		
			  RDA  RDA contribution towards regional office in Brussels (£000) 
			 AWM 393 
			 EEDA 66 
			 EMDA 306 
			 LDA 50 
			 NWDA 63 
			 ONE 170 
			 SEEDA 134 
			 SWRDA 183 
			 YF 330

Higher Education: International Cooperation

David Willetts: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what funding his Department has made available in 2009-10 for Palestinian academics wishing to study in the UK.

David Lammy: The Department does not provide funding for Palestinian academics wishing to study in the UK.

Insolvency

Mark Oaten: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent assessment he has made of trends in the number of administration proceedings.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 1 June 2009
	Changes introduced by The Enterprise Act 2002 were aimed at streamlining the administration procedure and introducing greater flexibility to the regime.
	One of the primary aims of the corporate insolvency provisions of the Enterprise Act was to promote the use of administration and restrict the use of administrative receivership where office holders are appointed to act on behalf of charge holders. This was to be achieved in a very direct way by removing the right to appoint an administrative receiver where a floating charge was created on or after 15 September 2003. Instead, administrators would be appointed who would act in the interests of creditors as a whole.
	Since the introduction of a more streamlined procedure, the number of company administrations in England and Wales has gone up. Evaluation of the Enterprise Act published in 2008 by The Insolvency Service found that the changes implemented by the Enterprise Act 2002 have encouraged a greater uptake of the administration regime as a viable insolvency option. This has been accompanied by a large decrease in the number of administrative receiverships since the introduction of the act.
	Recent Insolvency Service statistics show a sharper increase in the number of corporate insolvencies over the last four quarters, suggesting that it is the current economic climate which is causing the number of company administrations to rise.
	Statement of Insolvency Practice Number 16, introduced by The Insolvency Service and the Recognised Professional Bodies that regulate insolvency practitioners, is intended to foster greater transparency in the pre-pack administration process.

Post Offices: Standards

Mark Todd: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what arrangements Postcomm has made to commission quality of service surveys concerning queuing times in post office branches.

Patrick McFadden: Commissioning quality of service surveys concerning queue times in post office branches does not fall within Postcomm's remit. Postcomm's responsibility in relation to post offices is limited to monitoring developments in the network and offering advice to my noble Friend the Secretary of State in the form of an annual report on the post office network.
	A tracker survey examining queue times and the quality of service at Crown and franchised Post Office branches was published by Consumer Focus, the consumer watchdog, on 16 November 2008. The study was based on a UK-wide survey of 424 post offices and found that 22 per cent. of customers in Crown post offices are spending 10 minutes or more queuing, and over one in three (38 per cent.) wait for more than five minutes. Consumer Focus is currently looking to undertake a further study this year following the completion of the National Change Programme, with a view to establishing its effect on queue times.

HEALTH

Co-operation and Competition Panel

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Co-operation and Competition Panel in ensuring that co-operation has been taken into account when assessing the public and patient interest; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The Cooperation and Competition Panel (the Panel)'s remit is to advise as to compliance with the 'Principles and Rules for Cooperation and Competition' (PRCC), in individual cases. The PRCC set out expected behaviours and rules governing co-operation and competition in the provision of national health service services. Copies of the PRCC have been placed in the Library and the document is available at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_081098
	The Panel opened for referral of cases on 30 January 2009 and consulted publicly on draft guidelines for its operations.
	A review of the Panel will be carried out after its first year of operation. This summer, however, the Department will review the PRCC and promoting co-operation will be a key focus for the review.

Dental Services

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of primary care trusts which have a dental practice adviser.

Ann Keen: This information is not routinely collected centrally. To ensure the effective provision of dental services, primary care trusts (PCTs) need dental professional advice. Dental public health advice will most appropriately be obtained from a consultant in dental public health. In addition, PCTs may find it helpful to appoint on a sessional basis a dental practice adviser to assist them with issues about the delivery of general dental services. Dental practice advisers (DPA) are members of the dental public health team working particularly in the field of patient safety and quality improvement in dentistry. A survey conducted in autumn 2007 identified 57 dental public consultants working in England and around 90 dentists working as DPAs with some working for more than one PCT. The majority (87 per cent.) of PCTs in England had a dental practice adviser working on a sessional basis.

Dental Services: Inspections

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of practice  (a) visits and  (b) inspections carried out by the NHS Dental Reference Service in 2008.

Ann Keen: Between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2008, the Dental Reference Service (DRS) made 1,992 practice visits and 571 inspections, in England.
	These data refer to the physical number of visits and inspections that the DRS made to dental practices. More than one visit can take place at the same practice, in the period covered.

Departmental Billing

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many days on average  (a) his Department and  (b) each of its agencies has taken to pay invoices from suppliers in each month since November 2008.

Ann Keen: In accordance with directives issued by the former Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (now the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills), Government Departments commenced measuring performance against the target of making payment to suppliers within 10 days from November 2008.
	Based on these criteria, the average number of days taken by the Department and its agencies to pay its suppliers each month since November 2008 are as follows:
	
		
			  Dates  Department of h ealth  Medicines and healthcare products regulatory a gency  NHS purchasing and supply a gency 
			 November 2008 6 10 22 
			 December 2008 6 12 15 
			 January 2009 6 7 15 
			 February 2009 7 12 13 
			 March 2009 6 14 16 
			 April 2009 6 12 21 
			 May 2009 6 12 20

Health Professions: Registration

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the Answer of 18 May 2009,  Official Report, column 1223W, on health professions: registration, on what date each profession referred to in the Answer  (a) was registered or  (b) is planned to be registered; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: Operating Department Practitioners were registered from 18 October 2004. Registration of Practitioner Psychologists will commence on 1 July 2009.
	For the remaining professions, the White Paper, "Trust, Assurance and Safety—The Regulation of Health Professionals in the 21(st) Century" established an expert working group to consider the most effective and proportionate means of extending professional regulation to unregistered groups. The group reported recently and, following consideration by the Department's Ministers and their counterparts in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, their report will be published shortly.

Health Services: Plymouth

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of Plymouth Primary Care Trust's budget was spent in Plympton and Plymstock in the last 12 months.

Mike O'Brien: The information requested is not held centrally and Plymouth Primary Care Trust (PCT) do not hold figures on the spend in each of the wards in Plymouth.
	Plymouth PCT received allocations of £367.5 million in 2008-09, £393.3 million in 2009-10 and £416.5 million in 2010-11.

Heart Diseases: Health Services

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance the NHS issues on the maximum recommended time to be taken between receipt by the emergency services of notification of a suspected heart attack and the commencement of inflation of an angioplasty balloon in the patient's body in cases where such treatment is assessed to be appropriate.

Ann Keen: The Department has issued guidance on the time from patient call to treatment with angioplasty for heart attack in "Treatment of Heart Attack National Guidance" published in October 2008. A copy of this has already been placed in the Library. This suggests a time of 120 minutes. This is an aspirational time to guide planning of new services rather than a defined quality standard.
	Since then NHS improvement (an organisation which works with national health service trusts and clinical networks to deliver and sustain service improvements) has been supporting implementation of the new guidance and has launched a "Guide to Implementing Primary Angioplasty" on 1 June 2009. This states that primary angioplasty may be the best treatment strategy if patient call to treatment times do not exceed 150 minutes.

Hospital Wards: Gender

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the Answer of 5 May 2009,  Official Report, column 106-8W, on hospital wards, which hospitals had been visited by improvement teams on the latest date for which figures are available; and what the objectives were of each improvement visit.

Ann Keen: Following an initial period in which the Department has developed and tested hypotheses to sustain improvement activities, the first improvement team visit took place at Brighton and Sussex university hospitals NHS trust on 19 May 2009. As with all improvement visits delivered in association with the Delivering Same-Sex Accommodation programme, this involved support tailored to the needs of the trust concerned—focusing on assisting it to make the most of resources in improving patients' experience in this area. At this point, the Department has identified 19 trusts that are in the process of being offered improvement team support, though this number is likely to increase.

Liver Diseases: Health Services

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the Answer of 27 April 2009,  Official Report, columns 1078-9W, on liver diseases: health services, what methodology will be used by the National Quality Board for decisions about clinical priorities on health services for liver disease.

Ann Keen: At the National Quality Board's second meeting on 18 May, the board considered five existing pieces of work led by the Department to improve quality in particular clinical areas. This included a clinical strategy for liver disease. The board was happy for these existing pieces work to continue, and agreed to play an active role in ensuring that they were aligned with other organisations' activities to improve quality in these clinical areas. The five pieces of work will now continue on to their respective next stages.
	To aid them in determining their future clinical priorities and advising Ministers, the board is currently developing an objective methodology for clinical prioritisation.

Mental Health Services: Crimes of Violence

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many mental health service users have been prosecuted for offences committed  (a) on service premises and  (b) against service staff in each year since 1999.

Ann Keen: The information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Since 2004-05, the number of criminal sanctions reported by national health service bodies in England in cases of physical assaults against NHS staff has been collected annually by the NHS Security Management Service. The number of criminal sanctions reported in mental health and learning disability settings is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Number 
			 2004-05 213 
			 2005-06 290 
			 2006-07 274 
			 2007-08 261 
		
	
	Criminal sanctions include:
	cautions and conditional cautions;
	community rehabilitation or punishment orders;
	imprisonment (including suspended sentences);
	conditional discharges; and
	fines.

NHS Direct

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will allocate an 0300 telephone prefix to the NHS Direct service in order to reduce the cost of telephone calls to mobile telephone users; and if he will estimate the likely level of savings to  (a) his Department and  (b) service users of introducing such a change.

Mike O'Brien: The NHS Next Stage Review final report, "High Quality Care For All", published in June 2008, set out that the Department is currently considering options for the introduction of a new three-digit telephone number to help people find the right local service to meet their urgent, unplanned care needs. NHS Direct will retain its current 0845 number until we are clear about any future role and function it may have in implementing a national three-digit number.
	Any proposals to introduce such a new three-digit number, including charging options, would be subject to public consultation undertaken by Ofcom under the Communications Act 2003 to ensure transparency for all telephone users including mobiles. However, the Department has been clear for quite some time that it does not expect patients to be charged more than the equivalent cost of dialling a geographical number to contact the national health service.

NHS: Conditions of Employment

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Co-operation and Competition Panel in promoting co-operation between healthcare providers.

Mike O'Brien: No recent assessment has been made on the effectiveness of the Co-operation and Competition Panel (the Panel) in promoting co-operation between health care providers as the Panel only opened for referrals on 30 January 2009 and has started just started to receive cases. A review of the Panel will be carried out after its first year of operation. This summer, however, the Department will review its principles and rules for co-operation and competition, which set the framework within which the national health service and the Panel operate. Promoting co-operation between providers will be a key focus for the review.

NHS: Pay

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the mean salary of an NHS  (a) health visitor,  (b) Family Nurse Partnership nurse,  (c) midwife and  (d) paediatrician in the latest period for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: The mean salary for a national health service health visitor, family nurse partnership nurse, midwife and paediatrician are presented in the following table. These figures are for 2009-10.
	
		
			  Mean salary for nursing staff (2009-10) 
			  Staff group( 1)  Mean annual basic salary( 2,3,4)  (£) 
			 Health visitor 33,500 
			 Family nurse partnership nurse 35,600 
			 Midwife 30,900 
			 Paediatrician (consultant) 93,600 
			 (1) These staff groups are all types of qualified nurses. (2) Average (mean) basic salary for these staff groups in April-June 2008 sourced from NHS IC Quarterly Earnings Survey. (3) Average (mean) basic salary then adjusted for 2009-10 pay settlement of 2.4 per cent. (4) Figures presented are rounded to the nearest £100 following NHS IC convention. 
		
	
	These figures are based on average (mean) basic salary in the NHS Information Centre's (IC) Quarterly Earnings Survey (April-June 2008), adjusted for 2009-10 pay settlement of 2.4 per cent.

Prescriptions: Fees and Charges

Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has established a timescale for phasing in exemptions from prescription charges for those with long-term conditions.

Gillian Merron: The Government have asked Professor Ian Gilmore, President of the Royal College of Physicians, to undertake a review of prescription charges. The review is seeking the views of the public, clinicians and patient representative bodies on how to implement the proposed exemption for people with long-term conditions, including how it could be phased in. Decisions about the timescale for phasing in changes will not be made until after the review reports.
	The review was due to report to departmental Ministers in the summer. However, following discussions between Ministers and Professor Gilmore, he will undertake further work in order to ensure that proposals can be implemented smoothly and efficiently. Professor Gilmore is now due to report to departmental Ministers in the autumn.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Prisoners

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 1 June 2009,  Official Report, column 112W, on chlamydia: prisoners, how many positive results for sexually transmitted infections of tests taken by prisoners were reported by the Health Protection Agency in each of the last five years.

Gillian Merron: The Health Protection Agency (HPA) does not currently report on positive results for sexually transmitted infections in tests taken by prisoners.
	Sexual health services in prisons are provided by local national health service acute trusts through commissioning arrangements with the local primary care trust in England or Health Board in Wales.
	Such services provide data on tests performed and positive results to the Centre for Infections of the HPA through KC60 returns (now phased out) or, more recently, through a system of reporting called GUMCAD (genito-urinary medicine clinical activity data). However, prison-specific data are not disaggregated and the HPA is currently exploring such disaggregation.

Tranquillisers

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which of the expert advisory groups of the Commission on Human Medicines provide advice to his Department in respect of its policy on tranquillisers.

Gillian Merron: There are a number of Commission on Human Medicine Expert Advisory Groups (EAGs) which may provide evidence on tranquilliser issues. These include the EAGs on:
	Chemistry, Pharmacy and Standards;
	Clinical Trials;
	Medicines for Women's Health;
	Neurology and Pain Management;
	Patient Information;
	Pharmacovigilance;
	Psychiatry and Old Age Psychiatry.
	Other EAGs may also be consulted depending on the issues concerned and currently established EAGs and their members are listed on the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency website through the following link:
	www.mhra.gov.uk/Committees/Medicinesadvisorybodies/CommissiononHumanMedicines/Members/index.htm

Tranquillisers

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 18 May 2009,  Official Report, column 1229W, on tranquillisers, what targets his Department has set for the local provision of tranquilliser withdrawal services; and what funding has been made available for the achievement of those targets in each of the next three years.

Gillian Merron: The Department has set no targets for the local provision of tranquilliser withdrawal services. The provision of treatments and services that reflect local needs and priorities is a matter for local decision, within the overall funding provided by the Government for health care. The Government have trebled investment in the national health service since 1997, from £34.7 billion in 1997-98 to over £98 billion in 2009-10.